Planning

Right to Light
We’ve been granted planning permission to extend our house. Yet, our neighbour has stated that if we proceed he will take out an injunction — as he believes work will deny his ‘right to light’. His house is approx 6m from our boundary. Read more...

Small Plot Could Prevent Build
We’re considering self-building a bungalow on the corner of our plot. We live in an end-of-terrace house and the potential building plot is 10 x 12m. The new build will be within our boundary, but it would be close to a railway line. Is there any legislation regarding this? Read more...

Backyard Building
I’d like to utilise part of my large rural garden to build a new home. But it’s apparently outside the ‘settlement boundary’ — does this matter? Read more...

‘Start’ Work to Stop Planning Lapsing
The planning permission for my self-build is due to lapse very soon unless I make a start. What officially qualifies as a ‘start’? Read more...

Solar panels in a conservation area
We wish to install solar (thermal) panels. We realise that we have to apply for planning permission as the house is within a Conservation Area, but we have been given some informal feedback to suggest that we would be unsuccessful. Read more...

Right to light
Due to two Tree Preservation Orders, a side wall of my planned self-build home will end up restricting light into the bedroom of a neighbouring house. If my neighbour provided a letter stating that they have no objection, would it help my application proceed? Read more...

Changing the status of ancillary outbuildings
I own an (unlisted) period home in a Conservation Area, with a stable block — which I have secured planning permission to convert into a separate dwelling. I hope to let the converted stable out initially. However, if after conversion I then wanted to use the stable as ancillary accommodation to the house (e.g. for guests), do I need to reapply for planning permission? Read more...

Can a live/work restriction be removed?
We’ve come across several barns with planning permission for a residential conversion but with a ‘live/work’ restriction. Can this be removed and, if not, will this affect resale value? Read more...

Why have we lost our planning rights?
We plan to build two outbuildings in our substantial garden — both fall within our Permitted Development (PD) rights. On the instruction of our local Building Control department, we erected a temporary fence to protect the house users. However, the planning enforcement officer claims that putting up that fence means that the garden is “no longer one enclosure with the dwelling” — meaning we’ve now lost our PD rights. Is this right? Read more...

Can I change a greenfield designation?
I’ve had a planning application refused for two pairs of semi detached houses on a strip of land — shown as garden curtilage on my deeds. The land is within the village boundary and the Local Development Plan (LDP) indicates that it is developable. However, the refusal is based on the garden being designated greenfield... Read more...

Should I apply for planning for a garage first?
I intend to replace a bungalow in an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). The planners will restrict any additional volume in the new house to 15%. Thus I’ve asked the designers to omit a garage in the hope this can be added later. However, could I apply for planning permission to add a garage to the present bungalow (and complete if necessary) before applying for permission to demolish and rebuild a new house? Read more...

Can I raise my home to prevent flooding?
Unfortunately my detached bungalow has been flooded on two occasions. I would like to demolish and rebuild it one metre higher. Next door is a bungalow with the same ridge height. Would I be allowed to raise my bungalow above this ridge height or will the other bungalow impact on my planning application? Read more...

Why has our flood-zone house been rejected?
Our plans for a dwelling in a Flood Zone 3 have been rejected. One week before the outcome, the case officer supported our plans. However, the chief planning officer refused the application on the grounds of the exception test. Planning was recently granted for a house close by in the same zone — is there anything we can do? Read more...

Should we re-apply for planning?
We applied to demolish our three bedroom home and build a larger house. Four years have passed and we are still saving. Should we wait and let the planning lapse? Are the planners likely to reject it in the future? Read more...

Will we need planning approval?
We have been granted planning for an extension and garage to replace our sunroom. During the application for Building Warrant we decided to add another sunroom. Do we need to make another planning application? Read more...

The new 'presumption in favour of sustainable development'
I own several acres of agricultural land and a large garden surrounding my current home on which I’d like to pursue a self-build. The draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that there will be a ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’ — do I therefore have a chance?
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Building a Home on Agricultural Land
My partner and I bought a piece of agricultural land four years ago (we used it for business a couple of years prior) and now hope to build a home on site. I breed rare pigs, while my partner is a tree surgeon. We recently had equipment stolen and lost all but one of a litter of piglets. We’ve considered a log cabin/mobile home as a possible option, and whatever the resulting house it should be as eco-friendly as possible. What are our chances of gaining planning permission on agricultural land?
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Undertaking Unnecessary Work
My local planning authority suggests that by first converting my loft – to push my cottage above the ‘small dwelling’ threshold – I will be granted planning permission for a side extension. Is there any structural work I can undertake during the conversion to reduce duplication when later completing the side extension?
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Our planning permission has expired - is reapplying the only way forward?
We bought a barn for conversion about nine months ago, but the planning permission has now expired. In order to make a ‘start’ we did however install a septic tank, which was passed by Building Control. But our local planning department has now informed us that we need to reapply for planning as the septic tank was installed outside the ‘red’ boundary line. There were also two minor pre-commencement conditions. Is reapplying – even with the possibility of refusal – the only way forward?
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Do we need planning permission to convert two dwellings into one?
We live in a semi-detached house and our neighbour’s property is for sale; we are thinking of buying it and merging the two semis into one detached home. Do we need planning permission, and should we employ an architect?
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Planning permission for a derelict house
There’s an old ruined cottage (one wall remains standing) in a clearing in a nearby woodland which we’d like to buy from a local farmer; what are our chances of obtaining planning permission to rebuild it or even replace it with another house? There’s currently a track leading to the cottage, so access is available.
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Does building a basement need planning?
I hope to build a basement – approx 6m x 15m – in my large garden on a sloping site; will I need planning permission or can I build it under Permitted Development (PD) rights?
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Do I need planning permission for garden walls?
Do I need planning permission to build a two-metre-high garden wall? The wall will reside inside my garden, eight metres from my boundary line, but will face a footpath and highway. Could I build this wall under Permitted Development rights?
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Does my land fall within 'brownfield' designation?
I own a listed farmhouse and surrounding land — the latter was once part of an airfield and the footings for a number of former buildings still stand, as do the concrete service roads. Does this mean the land falls within ‘brownfield’ designation and, if so, what are the chances of development?
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Planning permission and on-site caravan living?
We’ll be living on site in a static caravan during our self-build. The caravan is included on our plans which were granted planning permission at the end of 2009. We’ve had a few setbacks but hope to start work this year. However, we’re concerned about what the situation would be if we were still living in the caravan – whilst completing the build – when the planning expires. Will we need to reapply for planning permission in order to keep the caravan on site whilst the final work is completed?
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Planning for a derelict house
I’m interested in a piece of land, with planning complications. There‘s a derelict 1930s wooden bungalow on site that hasn’t been occupied for 30 years. Within the area there’s been a lot of backland building, including new bungalows either side of this land. Yet, the land has been refused planning on at least three occasions. I’ve spoken with the planning officer who said that they’d prefer it to go back to natural pasture. Do we have any chance for planning?
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Extending up to party walls: The issues
I want to extend my semi-detached home to the rear, and intend to build right up to the existing boundary wall between my garden and my neighbour’s garden — leaving no space in between. The extension will be single storey with a pitched roof. I’ve discussed it with the neighbour and he’s not happy; is this purely an issue for the planning application?
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