Planning advice (1)
There are advice pages and interactive guides about whether you need permission on the government's Planning Portal website.
If you're a homeowner, most houses (excluding flats) let you make small changes without asking for permission. These are called Permitted Development Rights. But sometimes these rights are taken away, or there are other rules that stop you from using them.
If you have a business, you can also do some work, like changing how the space is used or adding solar panels, without planning permission.
We won't tell you if your idea needs permission or not. You can find out in three ways:
- Apply for a Lawful Development Certificate for your plan. It costs half the planning fee and tells you if you need planning permission. You'll need to show plans of your property and the changes you want to make.
- Get help from a planning agent. They can guide you and submit any needed applications for you.
- Do it yourself by checking online using the advice and links below.
How to check yourself
- Find out if your property has Permitted Development Rights and if there are other rules for your property.
- Check if past permissions put any limits on your property, like not turning a garage into living space. You can find past decisions by searching for your address.
- Learn what kinds of changes need planning permission on Gov.UK or the Planning Portal.
- Get tips on saving money and reducing carbon in your home or business.
Other permissions you might need
If your property is listed, you'll need special permission for any work.
Contact the Devon Building Control Partnership for permission related to building regulations for your project.
Pre-app advice
If you're planning a construction project and want to know the likelihood of getting approval, we offer a paid pre-application advice service. Outside of this service, we won't provide any free advice, whether verbal or written. You're not obligated to use this service; you can go ahead and submit your planning application directly.
It's important to note that our pre-application advice service won't help you determine if you need planning permission or not. If you're unsure, read "Do I need planning permission" or apply for a Lawful Development Certificate for guidance.
To get pre-application advice, fill out the online request form, upload plans, and pay the fee. This service can help identify and address issues early on, saving you time and money. We'll suggest improvements or inform you if the development's principle is likely to be rejected.
We encourage discussing your plans with neighbours and affected parties before applying. You might also need to consult Building Control to ensure compliance with Building Regulations.
Certain consultants, like Historic England, Environment Agency, and Natural England, provide paid pre-application advice in their specialised areas.
Please be aware that we can't provide pre-application advice for certain applications under the Town and Country General Permitted Development Order 2015 (GDPO). This is because a full assessment is needed, duplicating the application process.
While our pre-application advice is given without prejudice, it's based on available information and policies at the time. It's not a guarantee of a particular decision during the formal application process and is not binding on the Council. Opinions may change based on feedback, and the final decision may be made by the Planning Committee, which could differ from the initial advice.
Pre-application advice for larger scale proposals
Depending on the size and impact of your proposal any meetings may also include internal or external specialists and consultants.
For major proposals please contact us to agree the pre-application advice fee and the information you need to submit.
We also offer the following services:
Pre-application forum which allows applicants to present their proposals to Members, Planning Officers, consultees and other bodies. Please contact us to discuss the details and the appropriate fee.
We encourage the use of design review panels. Several design review panels are in operation in the region and may be suitable to provide input into the design process
Other useful links