Permitted Development Rights can offer householders a quicker and easier route to obtaining automatic planning permission – but what are these rights, and do they apply to your home?
Certain types of work to your home can be constructed without needing to apply for planning permission as these fall within the category of “Permitted Development Rights” (PD) – a set of national planning rules fixed by the government.
These rules allow construction of certain extensions, dormers, or outbuildings to waive the usual necessary planning approval. Each project is different and the rules generally relate to the original house, which means any existing extensions or alterations will play a factor in whether PD rights can be applied.
In some cases the local authority remove PD rights – partly, or in their entirety -depending on the context of the dwelling: for instance if the building is listed; in a conservation area; or as a condition of a previous planning approval.
As architects we can assess whether these rights apply to your project, and what can be achieved in terms of developing your property using these rights. And if gaining a planning approval is likely to be contentious, we can use permitted development rights as a more simple route to extending your home. Most projects require planning permission, and you should not limit your project to solely fit within the PD constraints, however, it is always worth evaluating what you could achieve with under PD rights to show the local authority how much better your scheme is in comparison.
Although you can avoid the planning application stage of a project with PD we would always recommend that you apply for a Certificate of Lawfulness which certifies that your project complies with PD rights. These are often used by homeowners when selling their properties to demonstrate to a buyer that the built extension falls under permitted development rights, giving them ultimate peace of mind.
At Kimble Roden we use our expertise and experience to consider using permitted development rights at the beginning of a project and can advise our clients of the best route to take and how to ensure the proper paperwork is in place.
For more information on the types of project that fall under PD rights refer to The Planning Portal or find our free guide below.
If you would like to discuss your project with an expert please call +44 (0) 1625402442 or email us for an initial consultation.
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