What is the difference between planning and building control?
The main difference between planning and building control in general terms is that planning is a permission based service that sets out requirements to determine if you can proceed with your developments and building control over see building works to ensure minimum building standards are met to ensure the health safety and welfare of those in and around buildings.
Do I need planning permission or listed building consent?
Are you looking to carry out building works to your home or business? Visit the planning pages of your local authority’s website to see if your works will require planning permission or listed building consent.
Exempt buildings and structures
Porch
For a porch to be considered exempt from building regulations the porch must be at ground floor level, internal floor area under 30m2, single storey, thermally separated from the dwelling with external quality doors, any glazing in critical locations is requirement to satisfy Part K and not heated.
Conservatory
For a conservatory to be considered exempt from building regulations the conservatory must be at ground level, walls to be 50% glazed and 75% of the roof is of a translucent material, any glazing in critical locations is requirement to satisfy Part K, internal floor area under 30m2, unheated, be thermally separated from the dwelling with external quality doors.
Covered ways/yards
To be considered exempt from building regulations a covered way/yard must be at ground level and a floor area under 30m2.
Carport
For a carport to be considered exempt from building regulations it must be at ground level, internal floor area under 30m2 and open on at least two sides.
Small detached buildings
A detached building which has a floor area not exceeding 15m2, contains no sleeping accommodation and is unheated is considered exempt from building regulations.
A detached single storey building which does not exceed 30m2, which contains no sleeping accommodation and is more than 1m away from a boundary or constructed of a non-combustible material.