Permitted development

Planning permission is not always required for particular building works or uses of land/buildings. You can apply for a  development certificate if you need formal confirmation that a development is lawful.

A lawful development certificate is a legal document which states one of the following:

• that something you intend to adapt or build does not need planning permission
• that an existing building does not need planning permission
• that a change of use for an existing building or land does not need planning permission
• that a building or other works have existed for so long that planning permission is no longer required.
• that a use of a building or land has existed for so long that planning permission is no longer necessary.

You can apply to the council to check if the law will allow a certificate to be issued.

There are two types of lawful development certificate (LDC):

• a proposed use or development
• for an existing use, operation or activity in breach of a planning condition