Development Control - What is Planning Permission?

Summary

What is Planning Permission

Planning permission is the means by which the use of land is regulated in the public interest. A planning application allows the Council to consider the suitability of a particular development in a particular place -and in doing so to take account of planning policies and the general interests in the area. The procedure under which planning applications are considered and decisions enforced is known as Development Control.

Do I Need Planning Permission?

This depends on what you want to do. Some minor alterations and extensions, particularly to houses, can often be carried out without the need for Planning Permission. This is known as 'permitted development'. To check if your proposal requires permission, a Householder Development Form is available to complete, and return to Development Control. This asks a number of simple questions about your works, such as size, position, details of previous extensions and garages etc. This will help us to assess if your proposal requires planning permission. We will endeavour to give a formal written response within ten working days of receipt.

However in most other cases, work will normally need permission. It is always best to check with the Development Control Team first as problems can occur if you undertake work without permission.

Below is a list of commonly undertaken works with a brief summary, which may or may not require planning permission:-

• New Buildings
• Change of Use
• Demolition
• Other Building Works
• Access to a Road
• Business Premises
• Business use in Residential Property
• Re-Building
• Land Raising Operations

Visual Guide for Householders

Use this Planning Portal tool as a guide in relation to Planning Permission for works on your property. This external site requires Adobe Flash Player. Please Click here to link to Planning Portal Website.

New Buildings
As a general guideline, if there is not already a building on a piece of land then planning permission is likely to be required to erect any new building on the site.

Change of Use
Changing the use of a building or a piece of land may well need permission, e.g. converting a barn to a house or turning a piece of farmland into a garden. If you have a large house and intend to sub-divide it into flats, you will also need to apply for planning permission.

Demolition
There are procedures to control the demolition of a house or any building. You should always check with the Development Control Team before you demolish a building.

There are also additional controls over demolition in conservation areas and for listed buildings.

Other Building Works
Planning permission may also be required for other types of building work such as alterations to a building. If you are thinking of any which would be carried out by a builder you should enquire whether planning permission and approval under building regulations are required.

Access to a Road
You will need planning permission to form a new access or alter an existing access to a Trunk or Classified Road.

Business Premises
Most work on land or buildings of business requires planning permission. Advertising signs may sometimes need planning permission. You should always check whether your external advertisement signs require permission.

Business Use in Residential Property
If you are proposing to run a business from home or if you wish to use for business purposes one or more rooms in your house, garage, outbuilding or the grounds surrounding your home, you should first discuss your proposals with a Planning Officer.

Re-Building
Re-building of a demolished or partly demolished building will require planning permission. For example to re-build a barn.

Land Raising Operations
Raising land by tipping operations, excavating material from land or altering ground levels is likely to require planning permission. You should always check whether planning permission is required before you undertake such operations.

Further information can also be obtained from the Department Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) Planning Web Site

Related Links:

• The Development Control Team in Barnsley
• DETR Department of Environment, Transport and The Regions
• Apply online using the Planning Portal