Property Development News

It is crucial that you obtain all necessary planning permission needed before you start developing your new property.

If you want to make changes that will change the exterior of your property, or affect the local area planning permission is needed.

Some advantages in getting planning permission in advance include:

• You will be sure that you’re following building regulations. Imagine how costly it would be if you start knocking a structural wall protected by building regulations.
• Potential buyers will pick up the permission during their survey, making your property more saleable.
• Lastly and most importantly, you’ll avoid heavy fines and even prison sentence.

Overall, the properties which need permission should be avoided for the first project in development, because they can involve lengthy delays.

You should always check with your local council if you need planning permission. However planning permission is not always needed. Typically you can build a conservatory up to 15 percent of property floor space without one.
The planning permission process is normally easy and uncomplicated:

1. Obtain and submit planning permission application.
2. Application is passed to the planning committee.
3. The planning committee will contact everyone it might affect.
4. Committee examines objections to evaluate whether or not any of the objections raised meet with the Council’s conventional planning objections.
   • Planning objections might include:
   • Developments causing a loss of light to others;
   • Overlooking another property;
   • Causing excessive noise;
   • Change of use (for example from residential to commercial);
   • Increase in number of visitations or traffic.
5. Committee then decides to overrule objections or not.
6. Committee reaches a decision.
7. Appeal stages apply (but unlikely).

This process takes about 6-8 weeks – but check with the local council first…

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