Festive opening times and service changes
Check opening times and arrangements for our services over the Christmas and New Year period.
Check if the work is covered by permitted development
Before you submit a planning application, please check to see if the work is covered under permitted development rights.
Extensions and home improvements
You can carry out some small alterations and extensions to your home or in your garden without planning permission under permitted development. Examples include:
- single storey ground floor extensions
- porches
- roof alterations
- paving, patios, driveways, decking and raised platforms
You can find out more about permitted development rights and how to make a permitted development enquiry in our guide to permitted development rights.
Gates, fences, walls, road access and painting stone
A number of other minor works can be undertaken without planning permission under permitted development:
- erecting or altering gates, fences, walls or other means of enclosure
- forming or constructing new access to roads
- cleaning or painting stone
Find out more about permitted development rights for minor works.
Agriculture and forestry buildings
Some work for the purposes of agriculture can be done without planning permission under permitted development:
- erecting, extending or altering an agricultural building
- forming, altering or maintaining private ways on agricultural land
- excavation or engineering operations on agricultural land
- conversion of agricultural and forestry buildings to dwellings to a flexible commercial use
Find out more about agriculture and forestry buildings.
Converting agricultural and forestry buildings to residential and flexible commercial use
Since 2021, new rules have allowed for agricultural and forestry buildings to be converted to residential or flexible commercial use under certain circumstances.
Changes of use for land and buildings
Buildings and land are grouped into classes depending on how they are used. Any material change of use may require planning permission.
If a change of use does not involve a change of class then planning permission is not required, unless a restriction has previously applied. In addition, some changes of class do not require planning permission unless a restriction has previously applied.
Find out more about how to change how land or a building is used.