With an especially scorching summer hitting the United Kingdom this year, many Brits have been considering installing air conditioning in their homes. But can they? For many Brits, that’s a tricky question. In the UK, making major renovations to your home isn’t always just a question of whether or not you have the funds and a contractor in mind. Depending on the type of renovation, where you live and even how old your property is, you may need what’s known as “planning permission,” and that can be hard to come by.
But what, exactly, is planning permission? How do you get it? And do you need it if you’re planning on making some changes to your home?
Let’s have a look and find out:
What is planning permission
First things first. Planning permission isn’t permission to make a plan; it’s permission from the relevant authority, which will be your local council in the UK, to make major construction changes. This can apply to anything from building a new house to adding on a sunroom in your backyard or expanding your garage. People also need planning permission for what’s known as “change of use,” meaning that, for instance, if you have a formerly residential property that you want to turn into a cafe, you’ll need planning permission to do so.
Who needs planning permission?
You might be wondering (possibly as you’re sweatily researching air conditioning installation professionals), when and if you’ll need to get planning permission for some changes you have in mind for your own property. Whether or not you’ll need it, or can go ahead on your renovations without the hassle, will ultimately come down to whether the renovations you’re planning are considered disruptive or, in some rare cases, if you have “permitted development rights.”
In some cases, property owners in the UK have what are known as permitted development rights, and these mean that there are some forms of construction you can do on your property without any say-so from the council. But what’s considered permitted development? According to the UK government website, permitted development usually applies to commercial buildings like warehouses and certain industrial sites, as well as certain outdoor structures. Permitted development also applies if you’re planning to tear something down, although even then you’ll still need to get council approval before demolition can begin.
On the other hand, there are still forms of construction and renovation on private homes that fall under permitted development and don’t need planning permission. Generally, you don’t need planning permission for renovations that won’t have an impact on your neighbors or on the natural environment.
In practice, this means that things like redoing your kitchen or bathroom, or adding a shed in your yard, won’t require planning permission.
On the other hand, major renovations that will impact your home’s exterior appearance and/or cause issues for your neighbors, like adding an extra floor to your home, or digging a swimming pool in your yard, may require planning permission—check with your council in any case, just to be sure.
Regarding air conditioning, most of the time, you won’t need planning permission to install air conditioning in your home. There are exceptions, though, and these are largely in cases where your house is a historic property (particularly if it’s what’s known as a “listed” building, with a historic designation), part of a broader historic neighborhood, and/or where the air conditioner would alter the exterior of your home, and this is relatively uncommon.
How do you apply for planning permission?
If your project does require planning permission, you’ll have to apply for it with your local council. You can find which council your home falls under by checking your postcode online. However, you likely won’t need to call or write your local council to actually apply; that’s typically done through a website called the Planning Portal.
To submit an application for planning permission via the Planning Portal, you’ll need to have detailed architectural drawings of the property in question, as well as drawings, quotes, and estimates for the construction you intend to do. This can all be a little complex, and potentially overwhelming, for a private individual, especially if the work you intend to do is complex enough to require permission in the first place, so you may want to engage the services of a planning consultant, who can help you navigate the process and ensure your application has the best odds of acceptance.
What are your options if your plan is denied?
Being denied planning permission is tough – there’s no two ways about it. After compiling and submitting your application, it can take between eight and thirteen weeks to get an answer back. If the answer is a denial, you may have the right to appeal, but this will depend on a variety of factors, and you may want advice from a solicitor before proceeding.
You may also look into plans that accomplish a similar goal, but fall within your permitted development rights, allowing you to forgo the planning permission process altogether.
Whatever you decide, good luck, stay cool, and happy renovating!
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Read more about the UK here in Dispatches’ archives.
See more from Ellery here.
Ellery Weil
Dr. Ellery Weil is a writer and historian based in London. She was born in Washington, DC, raised in Maryland, and attended undergrad in Ann Arbor, Michigan, before moving to the UK to attend grad school at University College London, where she earned her PhD in History. She lives in London with her husband, where you can find her writing, reading, petting dogs in Regent's Park, and exploring the city's antique markets.
