UK Planning Permission

The use of land in the UK is currently controlled by Town and Country Planning and this has been the case for the last sixty years and remains an important part of our democratic system.

Though at some point you may want to stop somebody from building something, most land investors encounter planning permission for the same sole reason: to obtain planning permission to build something. It is a legal requirement that all new buildings and appendages to existing buildings are granted planning permission before development and the penalties for failing to do so can be harsh.

Although Planning Permission is often regarded as a weapon of war for feuding neighbours, the theory behind it is very positive: it allows a range of different opinions about a particular development to be aired.

Types of Planning Permission

Outline Planning (OPP)

In some development schemes it is not possible to present the development as a whole and initially only the principles of planning permission are delivered. In this way some components of the plan can be reviewed at a later date. Depending on their importance to the overall plan, issues such as access routes, design and appearance may or may not be a part of outline planning applications.

On granting of outline planning permission a supplementary application will need to be made, which will incorporate previously reserved elements and allow planners to consider the plan in full. Development can only commence when this secondary application has bee approved by the planners.

Outline Planning status means that in principle it is possible to build on a particular piece of land and this status is usually valid for three years before reapplication is necessary.

In some cases outline planning is necessary however in general applying for full planning permission from the start is more time efficient and less costly.

Full Planning Permission / Detailed Planning Permission (DPP)

Where developers have a strong idea about a particular project, full planning permission is sought. In order to apply for full planning permission a very detailed development plan willl need to be drawn up which will leave no unanswered questions when it reaches the desks of the planners.

Development can commence as soon as full planning is granted, however there may be some conditions of approval and these must be complied with during the project.