How to check whether your home improvement project is permitted development in England

1. 1

   Identify exactly what work you are planning

   Begin by writing a clear description of your proposed project — for example, a single-storey rear extension, a loft conversion, a new outbuilding, or alterations to a roof. Note the location of the proposed work in relation to the main house and to your plot boundaries. Where possible, prepare a simple sketch plan showing the proposed work alongside any existing structures on the site. Having a precise picture of what you intend to do is essential before you can compare your plans against permitted development rules, and it will also be useful if you decide to seek pre-application advice from your LPA.

2. 2

   Check whether restrictions affect your property

   Before going any further, establish whether any of the following apply to your property, as each one changes what is — and is not — permitted development. Your LPA can confirm which restrictions are in force. First, confirm whether your home is a house (including a bungalow or terraced house) rather than a flat or maisonette — flats and maisonettes are excluded from these rights entirely. Second, check whether your property lies within Article 2(3) land: this includes land within a conservation area, a National Landscape (legally still an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty / AONB), a National Park, the Broads, or a World Heritage Site, all of which attract stricter permitted development conditions. Third, find out whether an Article 4 direction has been made — this is a direction under article 4 of the GPDO 2015 by which the Secretary of State or the LPA can withdraw specified permitted development rights across a defined area. Fourth, check whether any conditions attached to an earlier planning permission for your property have removed or restricted permitted development rights. Fifth, if your property is a listed building, note that listed building consent is a separate consent regime from planning permission, and many works will require it in addition to any permitted development rights that may exist.

3. 3

   Compare your project against the relevant permitted development limits and conditions

   Householder permitted development rights are set out in the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (GPDO 2015). Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the Order sets out the rules concerning what enlargements, improvements, alterations, and additions a householder may make to their house and the area around it without the need for a planning application. Each class of development — for example, Class A covering rear extensions, Class B covering roof additions, Class C covering other roof alterations, and Class E covering outbuildings — has its own limits and conditions. The Government has produced 'Permitted development for householders — technical guidance', available on gov.uk, which explains these rules in detail and how they should be applied. Read it carefully and assess whether your proposed work falls within the limits and satisfies the conditions for the relevant class. Where there is any doubt, seek advice from your LPA rather than assuming the work is permitted.

4. 4

   Use the Planning Portal and contact your local planning authority to confirm your case

   The Planning Portal (planningportal.co.uk) provides guidance on common householder projects and is a useful starting point for understanding how permitted development rules may apply to your circumstances. However, national guidance cannot account for every variation in individual house design, local conditions, or local restrictions, and the Planning Portal itself makes clear that its guidance is introductory and not a definitive source of legal information. It is therefore wise to contact your LPA directly and seek pre-application advice on your specific proposal. Your LPA may charge a fee for this service. Bringing a clear description of the proposed works and any sketches you have prepared will help the planning officer give you a more informed response. Remember that informal pre-application advice from a planning officer does not constitute a formal decision on whether your development is lawful.

5. 5

   Consider applying for a Lawful Development Certificate for legal certainty

   If you want formal legal certainty that your proposed work is lawful and does not require a planning application, one option is to apply to your LPA for a 'lawful development certificate' (LDC). Under section 192 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, a local planning authority can grant a certificate confirming that a proposed use or development would be lawful for planning purposes. Once granted, the certificate means the proposed development in accordance with it must be presumed lawful, subject to there being no material change before the work begins. An LDC is optional — it is one way of obtaining certainty, not a mandatory step. You may choose to proceed without one, particularly where your LPA has given clear pre-application advice, but be aware that an LDC provides a level of formal protection that informal advice does not. Further information on the process is available in the planning practice guidance on lawful development certificates on gov.uk.

When permitted development rights do not apply at all

In some circumstances, householder permitted development rights simply do not apply, meaning a full planning application is required regardless of the nature or scale of the proposed work. It is important to identify these situations at the outset to avoid carrying out development without the necessary permission.

• Your home is a flat or maisonette — householder permitted development rights do not apply to buildings containing one or more flats or a single flat contained within a building.
• Your property is on Article 2(3) land and the proposed work falls within a class that is excluded or further restricted on that land, such as certain side extensions or outbuildings in conservation areas or National Landscapes (legally still AONBs).
• An Article 4 direction has been made withdrawing the specific permitted development right you wish to rely on — in that case, a planning application is needed, although an Article 4 direction does not mean development will necessarily be refused, only that it must go through the application process.
• A planning condition attached to a previous permission for your property has restricted or removed relevant permitted development rights.

Common householder projects at a glance