Making a planning application

If a planning application is approved

Approval subject to conditions

When planning permission is granted, it is usually subject to a number of conditions.

If the permission is subject to conditions, you are required to submit for approval details of a specified aspect of the development which was not fully described in the original application.

We aim to deal with these applications within 8 weeks.

For more information on approval of conditions, visit the Planning Portal.

Outline permission

If outline permission has been granted, you will need to submit a further application for approval of anything that was not covered by the outline application (known as 'reserved matters') before starting work.

This must be done within three years of receiving outline permission.

For more information on reserved matters, visit the Planning Portal.

Non-material amendments

After getting planning permission, small changes to applications can be made by applying for a non-material amendment. You may want to do this, for example, to:

  • add an additional window to a house
  • reposition an opening
  • re-site a building by a small amount
  • increase the height of an extension

For more information on non-material amendments, visit the Planning Portal and GOV.UK.

Commencing your build

Once the application has been approved, including any conditions, you can start your development. Your decision notice will state the time limit in which you can start development, which is usually three years.

Remember that planning approval does not remove the need for building regulations approval, if this is also required for your development.