Planning Control

This section is for applications for:

• new buildings
• structural alterations to existing buildings
• displaying advertisements

There is also information about:

• unauthorised development and uses
• how to complain that the planning rules have been broken
• our procedure for determining applications at Area Committees and Strategic Development Control Committee
• our Planning Control and Conservation Charter
• our Public Access Guide

Further information about Conservation and planning policy is available by selecting the relevant section form the left hand menu.

For more information about the government's planning policy see the online planning offices website.

View planning applications online

Our Public Access planning application search facility allows you to view planning applications online. See our Search page for more details about this service. More information about UK planning and building regulations is available at the Planning Portal.

Building Design Advice

The documents below give informal design advice and information on various development issues that can affect the physical appearance and character of our local communities. This series of leaflets seeks to address the most common problem areas and provides simple solutions to help building owners, designers and builders.

Following the advice in these leaflets is not an alternative to the need to obtain planning permission, building regulation approval or any other consent. You should always check with the us if you are in any doubt about what permissions you need:

Advice on Paving Your Front Garden

Since 1 October 2008 new rules have applied for householders wanting to pave over their front gardens. The measure was introduced to help reduce the risk of flash flooding.

You need planning permission if the new paved area is impermeable and larger than five square metres and the rainwater drains directly onto the adjoining road, pavement, or neighbouring properties.

You do not need planning permission for any size of area if the finished paved area is made of a material that will allow water to drain through it naturally. This includes gravel, permeable concrete block paving or porous asphalt.

You also don't need planning permission if the new paved area is larger than five square metres and is made of a material that does not allow water to drain through (impermeable), but rainwater can drain naturally to a porous area within your property, such as a lawn or a flowerbed.

For help and advice please contact us using the details on the right of this page. 

Page last reviewed 4 Jun 2009