External walls

You do not need to apply for planning permission for repairs, maintenance or minor improvements, such as painting your house.

If you live in a listed building, you will need listed building consent for any significant works whether internal or external.

If you live in a Conservation Area, a National Park, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or the Broads, you will need to apply for planning permission before cladding the outside of your house with stone, artificial stone, pebble dash, render, timber, plastic or tiles.

Outside these areas, cladding may be carried out without having to first apply for planning permission provided the materials are of a similar appearance to those used in the construction of the house.

You can contact your Local Planning Authority for further advice. Use our Local Authority search tool to find their contact details.

Find your local planning authority ^{(https://www.planningportal.co.uk/find-your-local-planning-authority)}

Cladding

Cladding is a material or layer applied to the external walls of a building. The primary functions of cladding are to provide insulation, aesthetic changes, and protection for the existing walls.

The material cladding is manufactured from will impact their appearance and efficiency. Some cladding such as uPVC and vinyl will provide more insulation than timber cladding.

The level of care and maintenance required will vary based on the material. Brick and cement cladding will need very little maintenance, while wooden and weatherboard finishes may need regular cleaning and treating.

Cladding does provide added protection to exterior walls, however, it is not recommended to apply cladding to structurally unsound walls which cannot be repaired.