Overview

Before undertaking any building project, you must first obtain the approval of local government authorities. Many people (particularly householders) are initially reluctant to approach local authorities because, according to local gossip, they are likely to be obstructive . In fact the reality of it is quite the reverse as their purpose is to protect all of us from irresponsible builders and developers and they are normally most sympathetic and helpful to any builder and/or DIY person who wants to comply with the statutory requirements and has asked for their advice.

There are two main controls that districts rely on to ensure that adherence to the local plan is ensured, namely planning permission and Building Regulation approval. Quite a lot of people are confused as to their exact use and whilst both of these controls are associated with gaining planning permission, actually receiving planning permission does not automatically confer Building Regulation approval and vice versa. You may require both before you can proceed. Indeed, there may be a variation in the planning requirements (and to some extent the Building Regulations) from one area of the country to another. Consequently, the information given on the following pages should be considered as a guide only and not as an authoritative statement of the law.

You are allowed to make certain changes to your home without having to apply to the local council for permission provided that it does not affect the external appearance of the building. These are called permitted...