Development
Planning permission is usually required if land development is proposed. Development is defined in law as ‘the carrying out of building, engineering, mining, or other operations … or the making of any material change in the use of any buildings or other land’. The obvious examples are proposals to build or to enlarge or materially change the external appearance of buildings. Development also includes a change of use.
You can find out when planning is required in the government guidance.
Planning is governed by legislation, depending on the country in which your business is located:
- England and Wales are governed by the Town and Country Planning Act 1990
- Northern Ireland is governed by the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991
- Scotland is governed by the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997
Some minor building works, such as certain types of extensions, may be exempt from the need for planning permission; so, our advice is to always seek advice from your local planning authority.