Stop guessing: see in under a minute if this job needs planning permission.
For sole traders, small firms and landlords pricing residential work in England. Covers permitted development, extensions, outbuildings, dormers, and flats where the rules are tighter.
Sound familiar?
- “Client's convinced we're within permitted development but I've never fully checked.”
- “They want a rear extension. Size? Materials? Height? I'm not sure what tips it over.”
- “The property's in a conservation area. Does that change everything?”
- “It's a flat, not a house. Are the rules different?”
What this tool does
Asks you the ten questions that decide if a residential job falls under permitted development or needs a full planning application in England. It does not cover Listed Buildings, National Parks, or AONBs in depth, those have separate advice.
This is a simplified guide for England only. It does not replace professional planning advice. Always check with your local planning authority before starting work.
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Job type
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Property
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Details
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Result
Step 1 — What type of job?
What the law actually says
- •The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 sets the standard thresholds for extensions, outbuildings and dormers on houses.
- •Permitted development does not apply to flats or maisonettes. Any exterior works to a flat usually need planning.
- •Article 4 directions, conservation areas, and Listed Building status can remove permitted development rights entirely, even for work that would otherwise be allowed.