Factsheet - Building Regulations
What are the Regulations?
Planning is about how we plan for, and make decisions about, the future of our cities, towns and countryside in order to create better places to live.
The planning system is needed to control development in your area.
Over time, a formal way of making these decisions was set up leading to the establishment of the local planning authorities who are now responsible for deciding whether a development - anything from an extension on a house to a new housing estate - should go ahead.
The local planning authority usually means the district or borough council and not the parish or town council.
The plan-led systemThe planning system in England and Wales follows a plan-led system. This involves preparing plans that set out what can be built and where. The plan-led system is supported by legislation which is regularly updated and there are currently two main levels of plan.
Development controlMost new buildings or major changes to existing buildings or to the local environment need consent which is known as planning permission. Each application for planning permission is made to the local planning authority for the area (see our factsheet on Making a Planning Application for more information).
The application must include enough detail for the authority to see what effect the development could have on the area.
If the planning application is in line with the approved plan, the applicant can usually expect to receive planning permission within eight weeks for householders. Approval for larger, commercial developments often takes longer.
Planning Permission, in simple terms, is like asking if you can do a certain piece of building work. It will be granted (possibly subject to certain conditions) or refused.
Parliament has given the main responsibility for planning to local planning authorities (usually, this is the planning department of your local council). Therefore, if you have any queries about a particular case, the first thing to do is to contact your local planning authority.
It is your responsibility for seeking, or not seeking, planning permission. If required, it should be granted before any work begins.
The focus of the development management section is the granting of planning permission where these meet the requirements of the Local Plan and national planning guidelines. Planning permission is asking if you can do a certain piece of building work, be this an extension to your house or a new superstore for a major developer. It will be granted, subject to certain conditions or refused.
Certain types of work are covered by what’s called 'permitted development'. This means that they can be carried out without planning permission, as long as they comply with the permitted development rules and restrictions. There are however situations where your permitted development rights may have been modified or removed. This can be the case on some of the larger scale housing developments. If you are unsure if your permitted develoment rights have been removed you can contact your local Planning office to check if you need planning permission.
Parliament has given the main responsibility for planning to local planning authorities. Therefore, if you have any queries about a particular case, the first thing to do is to contact your local planning office. You may also be able to find out more about planning law in your local library, or via the Planning Portal.
You apply to us for planning permission. Planning applications are decided in line with the development plan unless there are very good reasons not to do so. There are many issues that the Planning Officers will need to consider when reviewing your application. With particular reference to householder applications this may include some of the following:
Anyone can make an application, irrespective of who owns the land or buildings concerned. However, if you are not the owner, or if you have only part-ownership, you have to inform the owner or those who share ownership, including any leaseholder whose lease still has seven or more years to run, and any agricultural tenant.
The planning system is needed to control development in your area.
Over time, a formal way of making these decisions was set up leading to the establishment of the local planning authorities who are now responsible for deciding whether a development - anything from an extension on a house to a new housing estate - should go ahead.
The local planning authority usually means the district or borough council and not the parish or town council.
The plan-led systemThe planning system in England and Wales follows a plan-led system. This involves preparing plans that set out what can be built and where. The plan-led system is supported by legislation which is regularly updated and there are currently two main levels of plan.
- Regional Spatial Strategies - each Regional Planning Body (such as the north-east of England) is preparing a Regional Spatial Strategy. This will identify things such as how many homes are needed to meet the future needs of people in the region, or whether the region needs a new major shopping centre.
- Local Development Frameworks - Each local planning authority is preparing a Local Development Framework. This sets out how your local area may change over the next few years.
Development controlMost new buildings or major changes to existing buildings or to the local environment need consent which is known as planning permission. Each application for planning permission is made to the local planning authority for the area (see our factsheet on Making a Planning Application for more information).
The application must include enough detail for the authority to see what effect the development could have on the area.
If the planning application is in line with the approved plan, the applicant can usually expect to receive planning permission within eight weeks for householders. Approval for larger, commercial developments often takes longer.
Planning Permission, in simple terms, is like asking if you can do a certain piece of building work. It will be granted (possibly subject to certain conditions) or refused.
Parliament has given the main responsibility for planning to local planning authorities (usually, this is the planning department of your local council). Therefore, if you have any queries about a particular case, the first thing to do is to contact your local planning authority.
It is your responsibility for seeking, or not seeking, planning permission. If required, it should be granted before any work begins.
The focus of the development management section is the granting of planning permission where these meet the requirements of the Local Plan and national planning guidelines. Planning permission is asking if you can do a certain piece of building work, be this an extension to your house or a new superstore for a major developer. It will be granted, subject to certain conditions or refused.
Certain types of work are covered by what’s called 'permitted development'. This means that they can be carried out without planning permission, as long as they comply with the permitted development rules and restrictions. There are however situations where your permitted development rights may have been modified or removed. This can be the case on some of the larger scale housing developments. If you are unsure if your permitted develoment rights have been removed you can contact your local Planning office to check if you need planning permission.
Parliament has given the main responsibility for planning to local planning authorities. Therefore, if you have any queries about a particular case, the first thing to do is to contact your local planning office. You may also be able to find out more about planning law in your local library, or via the Planning Portal.
You apply to us for planning permission. Planning applications are decided in line with the development plan unless there are very good reasons not to do so. There are many issues that the Planning Officers will need to consider when reviewing your application. With particular reference to householder applications this may include some of the following:
- size, layout, siting and external appearance of buildings and extensions
- the effect of your proposals on any neighbouring properties
- proposed means of access, landscaping and impact on the neighbourhood
- proposed use of the development.
Anyone can make an application, irrespective of who owns the land or buildings concerned. However, if you are not the owner, or if you have only part-ownership, you have to inform the owner or those who share ownership, including any leaseholder whose lease still has seven or more years to run, and any agricultural tenant.