Householder Planning
Do I need Planning Permission ?
Wychavon District Council is alerting residents to recent
changes in planning laws that affect what they can build in and
around their homes.
You can make certain types of minor changes to your home without
needing to apply for planning permission. These are called
'permitted development'. Other works or alterations need planning
permission.
Changes to Permitted Development
The
Government has published new legislation regarding the types of
development a homeowner can carry out without planning permission.
It came into force on 1 October 2008. The legislation relaxes
planning controls on smaller extensions. There are also new
controls over laying hard surfaces such as driveways.
The changes are summarised on the Planning Portal website which
provides an interactive "visual interactive
house" with information on common householder projects
that reflect the new changes. Information is presented via an
Interactive House and an Interactive Terrace. In addition there are
Mini Guides - visual walkthroughs of popular householder building
projects including: Extensions, Loft Conversions, Outbuildings and
Porches
There is a technical guide for "Permitted Development for
Householders", this is a guide only if in doubt speak to our
Customer Service Officers in the planning department!
To view the document click on this link. Permitted
Development for Householders
The Portal also provides planning and building regulations guidance
for many common building work
projects for the home
New regulations that come into effect from 1st October 2008,
means that enlargements, improvements and alterations to a house
will only require planning permission if they, amongst other
things:
- Cover more than 50% of the land surrounding a property
- Exceed the height of the existing property
- Extend beyond the rear wall of the original property by more
than 4 metres for a detached house and 3 metres for any other
or exceed 4 metres in height.
View a copy
of the complete revised document
Planning Advice from the Council
The Council has published
a Residential Design Guide which contains a chapter on General
design Principles for Extensions.
It gives advice as to
how you can extend your homes, or carry out other development to
your property, without harming the appearance of the area, your
neighbours' enjoyment of their property or other important planning
issues.
If you are uncertain as to whether your proposal requires
planning permission, you can complete one of the
Assessment forms below and return it to us as soon as
possible so we can confirm in writing to you if planning permission
is required or not:
Assessment Forms
The purpose of these forms is to
seek enough information to assess whether a formal planning
application is required.
Assessment Form 1
Extensions and alterations to
dwelling
If your property is a Listed Building
you will require Listed
Building Consent for any extensions or alterations,
regardless
of whether planning is required.
Planning permission is required for
the cladding of any part
of the exterior of a dwelling if the property is situated
within
a Conservation Area.
Assessment Form 2
Roof alterations to a dwelling
If your property is a Listed Building you will require
Listed
Building Consent for any roof alterations, regardless of
whether planning permission is required.
Assessment Form 3
Detached buildings within the curtilage of a dwelling
(including pools, enclosures and fuel
containers)
Listed Building Consent is not
required for any outbuildings
provided that they are not physically attached to a property
or structure which has listed or curtilage listed status.
Assessment
Form 4
Erection or construction of a porch outside any external
door of a dwelling
If your property is a Listed Building you will require Listed
Building Consent for the erection of a porch, regardless of
whether planning permission is required.
Assessment Form 5
Provision of or replacement of hard surfacing within
the curtilage of a dwelling.
You can use the Self Assessment form to check whether
planning permission is required if you propose to create or
replace an area of hard surfacing at your property.
Assessment
Form 6
Solar Panels & Standalone Panels
"Do I need planning permission Form" - If your enquiry is not
covered by the above assessment forms, please complete the above
form and return to either: planning@wychavon.gov.uk
or Planning Services, Civic Centre, Queen Elizabeth Drive,
Pershore, Worcs WR10 1PT. Tele: 01386
565565
Guidance on paving front
gardens
There are also changes to the guidelines for roof
alterations, and importantly, to hard surfaces such as
driveways.
Where driveways are concerned, planning permission will now be
required for any new or replacement hard surfacing greater than 5
square metres within front gardens.
Exceptions can be made if the new surface is made of porous
material, or if the run-off water can travel through into the
ground in a natural way.
This particular change is in response to recent concerns that
surfaced front gardens contributed to the 2007 floods.
The Government has estimated that these changes will result in a
reduction of about 80,000 planning applications nationwide. This
will free up Planning Officers to concentrate on larger
developments that have wider environmental consequences.
The purpose of the guidance is to advise householders of the
options for achieving permeability and meeting the condition for
permitted development status.
Guidance on the
permeable surfacing of front gardens
If you find that you do not require planning permission, you may
still need Building Regulations. Please check with South
Worcestershire Building Control on 01684 862223 (Mon-Fri
9-5) or email mail@southworcestershirebuildingcontrol.gov.uk
I need to submit a Planning Application
Householder Developments:
Householder
developments are defined as those within the curtilage of a house
which require an application for planning permission and are not a
change of use.
Included in householder developments are extensions,
conservatories, loft conversions, dormer windows, alterations,
garages, car ports or outbuildings, swimming pools, walls, fences,
domestic vehicular accesses including footway crossovers, porches,
balconies/terraces and satellite dishes.
Excluded from householder developments are applications relating
to any work to two or more flats, applications to change the number
of dwellings (flat conversions, building a separate house in the
garden), changes of use to part or all of the property to
non-residential (including business) uses, anything outside the
garden of the property (including stables if in a separate
paddock).
1APP Householder Application Forms
- Form 1. should be used when planning
permission is needed for work to a domestic house (not flats).
- Use Form 2. if your property is in a
conservation area and needs demolition requiring conservation area
consent.
- Use Form 3. if your property is a listed
building.
Householder applications may need a Design and Access Statement,
please click on the link to see if one is required -
Design
and Access Statements.
For advice and guidance on all your planning matters, call 01386
565565 or email
planning@wychavon.gov.uk.
Alternatively, visit this website and follow the
Planning Service link. or
view our
housing guidance.
Further Information
If you would like more information about a planning application
contact:
Planning Services
Wychavon District Council
Civic Centre
Queen Elizabeth Drive
Pershore
WR10 1PT
Telephone: 01386 565565 - between 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday
Email: planning@wychavon.gov.uk
