commercial planning permission: the complete 2015 guide

Commercial Planning

Permission:

The Complete 2015 Guide

Commercial Planning Permission: The Complete 2015 Guide

Contents

Contents 2

Introduction 3

How to Apply for Commercial Planning Permission 3

When is Business Planning Permission not Applicable? 4

What Happens once you’ve Applied? 5

Appealing 6

About us 7

Commercial Property – Industrial Units, Office Space to Rent 2


Introduction

If you own any commercial property, it’s quite likely that you’ll end up needing commercial planning

permission at some point. Here’s our guide on everything you need to know.

You’ll need to apply for planning permission if you:

Build anything new (such as additional parking, garages, etc.)

Make any major changes to your existing building such as building extensions

Change the overall use of your building (such as changing it from a warehouse to an office)

To find out if you need business planning permission, get in touch with your local planning authority

(LPA).

So, how do you do that?

How to Apply for Commercial Planning Permission

The easiest way to apply for planning permission is to use the online tool available at planningportal.gov.uk. If you have any queries your LPA should be able to help.


http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/planning/applications/planningapplications


When is Business Planning Permission not Applicable?

There are some building projects that don’t require planning permission due to what’s known as ‘permitted development rights’. These include:

Some industrial premises or warehouses

This isn’t automatic, however, there are a number of limits and conditions in place.

Some outdoor signs and advertisements

Again, there are specific rules set in place.

Demolition projects

Demolition projects must be approved by your LPA.

These are the major projects that don’t typically require business planning permission, but other

exceptions can be made. It is always best to check with your LPA.

The other major thing to consider is community rights. If your building benefits the local community

and is supported by them, it is possible that standard planning permission might not be required.

Community Right to Build will let your community grant permission itself under certain

circumstances.



What Happens once you’ve Applied

Once you’ve made your application, your LPA will decide whether or not to grant you commercial planning permission. They’ll take into account things like:

The number, size, layout, siting and external appearance of the buildings

Available infrastructure, such as roads and water supply

Any landscaping required in the project

What the development will be used for

Whether your development will affect the surrounding area in terms of traffic etc.

Typically, planning permission applications will be approved or denied within eight weeks, or about

13 weeks for longer, more complicated projects. If the decision takes any longer, you can appeal.

How do you do this?



Appealing

If your application is refused, you may be able to come to an agreement with your LPA by adjusting the plans slightly. You should be aware that appeals can take several months to be processed.

You can, however, only appeal in certain specific situations, such as if your LPA:

Refused your application

Grants you permission, but there are conditions to the permission that you object to

Refused to approve anything referred to as an outline permission, i.e. planning permission

for an idea rather than a specific plan

Refused approval for something that was previously demanded by them as a condition (i.e. if

you’ve developed a building as part of obtaining planning permission on a previous project)

Doesn’t make a decision by the deadline, and doesn’t obtain permission to alter the deadline

Serves you with an enforcement notice because it thinks you might have broken planning

permission, and you disagree



Thank you

pallmallestates.co.uk 020 8986 7221 / 0121 228 0000

[email protected]

8 Millfields RoadLondonE5 0SB

About us

Pall Mall Estates specialise in letting great value

commercial property across the UK, accommodating

all business sizes. Whether looking for a relocation or a

first office, Pall Mall Estates’ team of property experts

will be happy to help.


mailto:[email protected]

http://www.pallmallestates.co.uk/


Check out the wide range of properties

we currently have on offer.


http://www.pallmallestates.co.uk/