Just Planning

08/05/2024

Do you want to replace windows on a house in a conservation area?

The works are sometimes permitted development, but often need full planning permission.

In an answer to a reader in Sunday's Times, we outline the options.

Plus reader questions on a mortgage valuation that found damp in a property, moths in the kitchen and a landlord who won’t fix a leak

01/05/2024

Most people understand that you can't build new homes in the green belt, but not everyone realises that there are also heavy restrictions on how you can extend homes in the green belt.

Some houses cannot be extended at all!

In a recent answer to a reader's question in the Daily Mail, Martin Gaine explains what you can do if the council refuses your application for extensions.

What are our options after the council refused our planning application to extend our cottage were refused?

12/04/2024

It is so hard to get planning permission for new homes in the countryside, that it is important to be daring and innovative, and to have some good luck!

In today's Daily Mail, I comment on this cool self-build site currently for sale in West Norfolk. The owners got permission only on the third attempt, and by persuading the planning committee to overturn the planners' recommendation to refuse.

Silos are used in farming to store grain or fermented animal feed... but these structures in rural Norfolk are set to get a new lease of life as a three-bed home.

16/02/2024

In the last two days, we have obtained two lawful development certificates for flats in Ilford - one for 39 flats on Riches Road and another for 4 flats on Aberdour Road.

The flats were lawful under the four year rule.

This rule is soon to be abolished - so get your applications in quick!

https://www.just-planning.co.uk/successes/certificate-of-lawfulness-under-the-four-year-rule-for-the-use-of-a-building-as-39-flats/

12/10/2023

The art to blocking planning applications, be it a neighbour’s extension or bigger projects

30/06/2023

Only 48% of planning decisions are being made within the 8 week target. What can you do if your application seems to have been forgotten?

My architect submitted a planning application and we have been waiting for six months for a decision - but the planners seem to have done nothing at all so far.

23/06/2023

Happy Friday folks! This week we are celebrating a successful appeal for a double dormer in Chiswick and a grant of prior approval for the conversion of a former fine art gallery into three new flats 🖼️ ➡️🏘️

Rear dormer roof extensions are often permitted development, meaning that planning permission is not required at all. But some properties don’t have permitted development rights and some dormer roof designs are not permitted development. So what can you do? You can apply for full planning permissi...

29/04/2023

Why is it that the UK has the lowest known rate of self-building in the world?

Building your own home gives you exactly what you want, and you can even earn a profit.

The right self-build plots can be hard to find and projects can sometimes be hard to find finance, but the main issue is confidence.

But anyone can manage a self-build - it is not as hard as you might think, as Martin Gaine explains in today's The Telegraph

With special thanks to: Nacsba - The National Custom and Self Build Association

Lacking a self-build culture, Britain has the lowest known rates globally

15/04/2023

03/04/2023

Every year we help homeowners who have built a rear dormer believing it to be permitted development, and then discovered that it is not and that it might have to be demolished. It causes stress and anguish and can be ruinously expensive.

This Daily Mail reader built a loft that is 5cm too tall. Will he have to demolish? Our advice: engage with the enforcement officer and apply for retrospective permission

Do I need planning permission for the new loft conversion with a dormer extension I've built, which the council says may need lowering?