Planning permission
Planning permission relates to whether a development is acceptable in principle. That includes its:
- appearance
- impact on neighbours
- alignment with planning policies
Building regulations
Buiding regulations approval relates to how the development is constructed. The aim is to make sure it's:
- safe
- structurally sound
- energy‑efficient
- compliant with technical building standards
Application processes
Details of the processes for getting planning permission and building regulation approval.
Planning permission
Planning permission is about whether your proposed development is acceptable in principle. The process involves:
- submitting an application (usually through the Planning Portal) with the required forms, plans and fee
- validation by the council to ensure all necessary information has been provided
- public consultation for 21 days, where neighbours and statutory bodies can comment
- assessment by planning officers against national and local planning policies
- decision normally issued within 8 weeks for householder and minor applications
See our guide to planning permission
Building regulations approval
Building regulations ensure your development is safe, structurally sound and meets technical standards. The process involves:
- choosing a Building Control provider, either the council or a registered private Building Control approver
- submitting a building regulations application, through either a:
- Full Plans route (checked before work starts)
- Building Notice (checked during construction)
- validation and technical assessment, where Building Control checks your plans and inspects works at key stages to ensure compliance
- completion certificate issued once the work meets all required standards