What is planning permission? Here's your guide...

There are 46 National Landscapes across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, which are protected by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW Act) due to their significant landscape value.

A backland plot refers to land that sits behind an existing property. Typically it won’t be visible from the road and is often a large residential garden.

Land which has been previously developed and is occupied by a permanent structure but is no longer in use is known as brownfield land, or a brownfield site.

Whereas planning permission assesses the potential impact of your project on your neighbour’s quality of life, scope to disrupt wildlife and alignment with national and local regulations, building permission covers the safety and structural implications of the development throughout the process.

These are a set of statutory standards in England and Wales which ensure new buildings and alterations made to existing buildings (domestic or commercial) will be safe, energy efficient, promote healthy living and will be built for purpose.

Building Control carries out checks to ensure buildings under construction are compliant with these standards and will issue Building Regulations approval.

If, for example, you’d like to change the use of a former agricultural barn into your future oak framed home, you’d generally need to obtain planning permission approval. We recommend you speak with a professional about your change of use aspirations.

Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a local authorities charge imposed on new developments to fund public infrastructure, including roads, schools, and healthcare. A self-build exemption allows individuals building their own home to avoid this charge, provided they meet specific criteria, such as living in the property for at least three years.

These protect and preserve the special architectural or historic interest and the character and appearance of a place which make the area unique.

Historic England notes there are approximately 10,000 conservation areas in England.

This term primarily describes the ground and buildings immediately surrounding or next to a house or dwelling.

If or when you submit your planning application, your local planning authority will formally notify you with a written decision notice, and this will clearly state whether your planning application has been approved.

This is a short report that accompanies a planning application, and its purpose is to support and justify your proposal to your planning officer.

An environmental statement is prepared by you, the planning applicant, or the planning professional you’ve employed on your behalf. It is the assessment of the environmental impact of your build. What’s more, it’s part of an EIA, which is a process that’s carried out when it’s thought that construction may impact the environment.

This is the most common type of planning application. Within a full planning application, you submit all the details associated with your proposed new oak framed home.

Areas of countryside which are protected from most forms of development to prevent urban sprawl are known as green belt land.

Land which has not yet been developed or built on is called greenfield land.

A listed building or structure is deemed to have architectural or historic interest and they’re added to a national list to recognise their national importance. In England and Wales, there are three types of listed buildings: Grade I, Grade II, and Grade III.

Individuals within a council’s local planning authority are responsible for deciding whether the planning permission application for your future home build or sunroom extension should be granted.

This type of application requires fewer details about your proposed new build than a full planning application. An outline planning application is typically submitted at an early stage to find out whether a proposed development is likely to achieve planning approval from the local planning authority.

Permitted development rights allow homeowners to carry out certain changes to their homes, for example, in the form of an oak framed conservatory, without needing to submit a full planning permission application.

In place of refusing your application, your case officer may grant permission but with conditions attached that must be adhered to before building work can commence.

These are requirements issued by the council which must be met before you can live in your beautiful new family home.