Planning permission and building regulations

What is planning permission?

The planning system controls the use of land and what's built on it. It's enforced by local planning authorities (LPAs).

Businesses may need to apply for planning permission in a range of circumstances - from building new premises to changing an existing building's use. See the page in this guide on when do you need planning permission?

Anyone can apply but if you don't own or only partly own the building or land, you must inform the other parties involved of your intentions. Anyone with seven years or more left on a lease should also be informed.

There are two types of permission you can apply for - outline and full.

Outline permission

For a new building you can submit an outline planning application to check whether it's acceptable in principle. If granted, you then need to get approval of the details (reserved matters) before you can go ahead with construction. Outline permission generally lasts for three years - if you have not started to submit reserved matters before the three years is over, the outline permission expires.

Full permission

If you want to change the use of land or buildings or start work quickly, you should make a full application. If granted, work should start within three years (or the period specified in the permission) or you may need to reapply.

Your local planning authority takes planning decisions in accordance with its development plan for the area. Find your LPA on the Planning Portal website - Opens in a new window.

You can find out about the planning system in Wales on the Welsh Assembly website - Opens in a new window.

You can read information on Scotland's planning system on the Scottish Executive website - Opens in a new window.

Read about planning rules in Northern Ireland on the Planning Service website - Opens in a new window.

Regardless of the need to apply for planning permission, most work will still need to conform to the relevant building regulations. See the page in this guide on what are building regulations?

Special planning rules apply to agricultural businesses. You can download a farmer's guide to the planning system from the Planning Portal website (PDF, 784K) - Opens in a new window.

Subjects covered in this guide

Print options - What are my print options

- Opens in a new window

Print guide now - Opens in a new window

Add guide to my print portfolio (print later as PDF)

Email options - What are my email options