We can take care of the whole process, advising you when your scheme falls within permitted development and when you will need planning permission and submit the appropriate documentation, including location plans, floor and elevation drawings of the existing property and the proposed addition and all information required by the local authority.

We will submit drawings to the Local Planning Department on your behalf, once you have approved our drawings, we take care of all the paperwork, submit and negotiate with the planning department on your behalf. We have daily contact with numerous local planning officers having built up a close working relationship over many years.

Generally, a householder planning application will be determined with 8 weeks of submission and can be tracked on the local Authority website so that you are fully updated at each stage of the process.

Sometimes your project will not require a planning application. Clients are often surprised at what they can do under Permitted Development. Permitted Development is judged purely on the facts and not based on the opinions of planning officers or neighbours. If your scheme fits within the criteria it cannot be turned down.

We would always recommend a Lawful Development Certificate which proves any work carried out is legal, this is necessary when you sell your property and can also be a requirement of your lending provider. Detailed drawing plans will still need to be submitted to your local authority (they are required for Building Regulations also) but the fees payable to the council are generally half that of a planning application.

The process of applying for Building Regulations approval is a separate one to the planning permission process. The Building Regulations are not concerned with what you are building but how it will be being built.

Building Control require a full set of plans, with elevations, cross sections and structural calculations (if necessary). Building Regulations are aimed at achieving minimum standards in a building’s construction, energy efficiency, fire regulations and disability access.