Permitted Development

Permitted Development (commonly referred to as PD) grants rights to enable undertaking certain types of work without the need to apply for planning permission. Please visit our page relating to Permitted Development for Houses to learn specifically about domestic PD projects.

​The scope of Permitted Development rights is varied and covers both internal and external works, but there are strict design criteria that need to be adhered to. If a project falls outside of the set criteria, then submitting a planning application will be necessary.

​Lawful Development Certificates

In theory, if a proposal constitutes Permitted Development and is fully compliant with the regulations, no application is required. It is, however, advisable to apply for a Certificate of Lawful Proposed Use of Development, otherwise known as a Lawful Development Certificate (LDC), to ensure that a proposal complies with the regulations and that no difficulties arise post construction.

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​If no objections are received (or any objections received are not considered to have planning merit) and the LPA is satisfied that there are no significant adverse impacts, a Lawful Development Certificate is issued.

​If after construction, the LPA determines that a proposal does not comply with PD regulations then enforcement action might take place, which would normally result in a request for a retrospective application. Should permission be refused, there is a real likelihood that any development will be required to be demolished. As such, confirmation in the form of the LDC is highly recommended.

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The process

Permitted development allows for a speedier administrative process, less scrutiny of the design proposal and possibly cost savings, however, it may still turn out to be troublesome. This is why we offer our clients a Permitted Development Design service incorporating Architectural design and similar features to our planning applications services, where, in addition, we will evaluate and develop the architectural proposal around the more restricting  PD requirements, prior to submission for a Lawful Development Certificate.