Planning Permission
Design & Access
Your agreed design may require a planning application to the local authority. Your designer will add more details to the designs and seek your preferences for types and style of materials to ensure a detailed application can be submitted. They will draw up a Design & Access Statement which is a written document that provides more detail to accompany the visual plans and elevations.
Listed Buildings & Conservation Areas
If your building is listed or in a conservation area, a Heritage Statement will be drawn up that describes the historical context of the building and location, together with how these will be preserved, enhanced or repaired as part of the relevant application.
Permitted Development Rights - No Planning Permission required
Quite often, domestic projects like extensions and loft conversions can be completed under Permitted Development Rights. This is an area of planning law that allows homeowners to undertake certain improvements without the need for a formal planning application. Clear Surveys can advise if your plans will meet the Technical Guidelines and help adjust them so that they meet specific criteria to avoid a full planning application. You can also choose to apply for a Lawful Development Certificate if you wish, a kind of rubber-stamping process to show that Permitted Development Rights were applied correctly, and that formal Planning Permission was not required. This can be quite useful for peace of mind and for when you come to sell the property in the future but is not essential.
How long does it take?
Formal Planning applications tend to take 8 to 12 weeks (despite what planning guidance states) but using Permitted Development Rights requires no pause in the process and you can move directly onto the Building Regulations Stage.