There is a common misconception that planning permission and building regulations are just two terms used to describe the same thing, but in fact that isn’t the case at all. More people than ever before are renovating their properties these days as it’s becoming more difficult to afford to move up the property ladder and find a home that’s large enough to accommodate a growing family.
With that in mind, homeowners everywhere need to understand what planning permission and building regulations are, the differences between them, and when they are needed.
While every renovation project requires planning, whether or not any legal steps have to be followed when carrying out your improvement project can be a cause for confusion. Here, we’ll take a closer look at what these legal steps are and how you can proceed with your home improvement project.
Planning Permission
This kind of approval is given by the local authority, giving permission to carry out specific home improvements. It’s there to guard against any inappropriate developments, but it’s frequently only required when carrying out a large-scale renovation.
If you’re remodelling your property, for example building something completely new or adding on an extension, you’ll probably have to get planning permission before beginning your project. While it’s often frustrating to have to wait to get the permissions you need, if you go ahead and get started without the necessary approval, you could experience some serious issues in the future.
Since more than 80% of all planning applications receive approval, it’s unlikely that your plan will face rejection. However, if it does, you may be able to take certain steps to get the rejection overturned.
Building Regulations
Planning permission and building regulations are two different things. You have to make sure that any home renovations you carry out are compliant with building regulations. These standards have been designed to ensure that your property and you yourself are kept safe while also ensuring the property is healthy to live in and meets the required efficiency standards.
The UK building regulations apply to everything from the property’s structural integrity to its fire safety. There are a few scenarios that give you exemption from the building regulations, but in most cases, your home has to be compliant with all of the most up to date guidelines.
Building Control
Building control inspectors working for the local authority generally review all proposed property alterations to decide whether or not approval should be granted. While the building regulations make sure that all renovations are both efficient and safe, building control is responsible for assessing and enforcing the rules.
Before beginning any home improvement projects you have to make sure that your proposed alterations meet all the minimum standards that building regulations have set out.
Planning Permission And Building Regulations – The Differences
The main difference between planning permission and building regulations is that home and city developments are controlled by planning permission whereas the safety and efficiency of properties are ensured by building regulations. Sometimes, you only need one or the other, and sometimes you must apply for both permissions. It depends on the type and scale of your plans. Sometimes, you may even have to apply for neither, especially if you are only carrying out small-scale or internal renovations.
Building Control And Planning – The Differences
The difference between building control and planning is that planning control is responsible for governing the process of giving approval for planning permission while building control is responsible for governing the process of approving building regulations.
What Will Happen If I Start Building Without Getting Planning Permission?
If no planning permission was required for the works that you have started, there will be no problem. However, if planning permission was required and the local authority learns about the renovations, you will be required to make a retrospective planning permission application. This means that the application is submitted late for approval.
Should the local authority agree with the changes, there’s no need for any further action. However, if the application gets rejected, you could be made to restore your property to its original condition at your own expense.
What Is Planning Permission Required For?
Planning permission is required if you’re making any extensive changes to a property such as adding on a new structure such as a garage or extension, or starting to use any structure that’s on the land for a different purpose.
Why Is Approval For Building Regulations Needed?
The primary reason for obtaining building regulations approval is for your safety. Homes would be permitted to remodelled in a way that negatively affected their structure and integrity resulting in damages and accidents if there were no such standards in place.
How Much Will It Cost To Get Planning Permission?
The good news is that in many cases there is no need for homeowners to obtain any planning permission when making changes to their properties. However, if the changes you’re planning are larger in scale, you’re likely to require planning permission which, of course, will come with a cost.
Fortunately, the price isn’t exceptionally high, but it can take several weeks to complete the process of submitting an application and waiting for approval, so you’ll need to plan ahead effectively when scheduling your alterations to make sure you time everything correctly. If you’re entering an application for planning permission for a new house in England, you can expect to pay £426 at the present time, although if your project is smaller in scale you will not need to pay such a high cost.
It’s always best to speak to your local planning department in advance to find out firstly whether you need to get any planning permission for your proposed project, what type of permission you’re going to require, and also how much you’ll need to pay so that you can budget correctly and make sure that you’re properly prepared before you embark on the construction phase of your project.