Do I need planning permission?
Before you start any building or home improvement work on your property it's essential that you check with your local planning office to confirm if you need planning permission. The rules for planning permission are complex but we have created a series of guides below to make it easier for you to understand when you do and don't need planning permission. We do strongly advise that you also ask your local office if there are any locally specific rules.
Building regulations are also important. The difference between planning permission and building regulations is that planning is all about IF you can build or make changes to a property. Building regulation is about the STANDARDS and QUALITY of what you are building to ensure safety of the structure.
Planning permission and building regulation are separate and must be applied for independently. In some cases, you might not need planning permission but you could need building regulation, so always check that you comply with both.