Permitted Development Rights

What Is Permitted Development?
What You Can & Can't Do

Do you need planning permission for the change you want to make to your home? Use our guide to find out what you can do without involving your local authority

By Sarah Warwick

What Are Permitted Development Rights?

Permitted developments are changes and additions you can make to your home without applying to your local authority for planning permission. The rights are for houses - so if you live in a flat or maisonette, they don't apply.

If you live in a World Heritage Site, Conservation Area, National Park, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or the Norfolk or Suffolk Broads, permitted development rights are more restricted, so some changes you might want to make to your home will need planning permission when they wouldn't if you lived elsewhere. Listed buildings are also an exception to these rights.

It's also important to note that local authorities can withdraw some of the permitted development rights, for example in a conservation area. So if you live in such an area, or you're not sure, ask at your local planning department whether you will need to apply for planning permission for the work you want to do.