Consent types

Application for Planning Permission   

Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (section 62)¹

When do I need full planning permission?

A full planning application is required when making detailed proposals for developments which are not covered by a householder application or permitted development rights. This is commonly the case for new buildings of any kind and any ‘commercial’ project. 

Examples of popular uses of Full planning permission can include:

• Structural alterations or additions to builds including
• Any works relating to a flat
• Applications to change the number of dwellings (e.g. flat conversions, building a separate house in the garden)
• Changes to use of part or all the property to non-residential uses
• Anything outside the garden of the property
• Demolition of buildings
• Rebuilding
• Other work normally undertaken by a builder

Full planning applications can be made when all the details are known and the development is already considered viable.

Planning permission will also be necessary, in most cases, if there is a proposed change of use of buildings or other land. View further information on Use Classes².

Building works which are not classed as ‘development’ and therefore do not require planning permission can include maintenance, improvements, or other alterations inside the building, or which do not ‘materially affect’ the way the outside of the building looks.

Examples of building works which may not require planning permission include:

• Internal building works
• Small alterations to the outside such as installing alarm boxes
• Putting up boundary walls and fences below a certain height
• Changes of use if the intended use will be incidental to the existing use(s)
• Certain uses for agriculture or forestry

These may still need approval from Building Regulations³ before commencing work. 

Information required 

The documents required to submit a Full planning application will vary depending on the type of work proposed. Most applications will require a:

• Site/Block plan
• Design and access statement
• Location plan

You will need to submit other supporting information; this may vary depending on the size of the development. Applications may require:

• Site area
• Current and past use of the development site
• Flood risk assessment
• Access report
• The materials which are to be used
• Information concerning waste storage and collection
• Foul sewage report
• Employment and hours of opening
• Past and proposed industrial uses

For large housing developments this may be an Affordable housing statement, Environmental statement or Site waste management statement. 

Timeline

A decision on an application should be made within 8 weeks. This begins when the Local Planning Authority accepts the application as valid. On major developments this may take 13 weeks, or 10 weeks for applications for Technical Details Consent.

Fees

The fees for a Full planning permission application vary depending on the work.

For information on planning fees, you can use our fee calculator,⁴ this will help account for any possible reductions or exemptions.

What happens next?

Once the application is deemed successful by the Local Planning Authority, no further contact is needed prior to development. However, other consents, such as listed building consent, may be required, or conditions adhered to. 

It is often helpful to discuss your proposal with your local authority before you send in your application – this is known as pre-application advice. Your local authority will normally have details of how to go about this on its website.

Further resources

Making an application - GOV.UK⁵

1. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1990/8/section/62
2. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/change-of-use/use-classes
3. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/applications/building-control-applications/building-control
4. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/app/fee-calculator
5. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/making-an-application#full-planning-permission