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  1. Welcome to Planning Portal
  2. Do you need permission?
  3. Your responsibilities
  4. Planning Permission
  5. What is Planning Permission?

Planning Permission

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  1. What is Planning Permission?
  2. Permitted Development Rights
  3. Lawful Development Certificates
  4. Retrospective planning permission
  5. Failure to obtain or comply with planning permission
  6. Factors affecting planning permission: Your neighbours
  7. Factors affecting planning permission: Design
  8. Factors affecting planning permission: Nature and wildlife
  9. Factors affecting planning permission: Environmental health
  10. Factors affecting planning permission: Roads and highways
  11. Factors affecting planning permission: Fire safety
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What is Planning Permission?

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.


Useful links

Make an application (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/applications)

Make an application

Buy a site plan (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/planning/planning-applications/buy-a-planning-map)

Buy a site plan

Planning consultancy calculator (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/home-improvement/planning-consultancy-calculator)

Planning consultancy calculator

Biodiversity net gain tool (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/commercial-developments/biodiversity-gain-tool)

Biodiversity net gain tool


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        The Planning Portal is delivered by PortalPlanQuest Limited which is a joint venture between TerraQuest Solutions Limited and the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG). All content © 2025 Planning Portal.

        The Planning Portal is delivered by PortalPlanQuest Limited which is a joint venture between TerraQuest Solutions Limited and the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG). All content © 2025 Planning Portal.