Planning permission - Print version

Extending or carrying out work on your home

View the [https://interactive.planningportal.co.uk/]Planning Portal Interactive guide [https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200125/do_you_need_permission/90/interactive_house] to find out whether you require planning permission or visit the Planning Portal Common projects [https://www.planningportal.co.uk/commonprojects] page to find out about planning rules, permitted development limits and building regulations for over fifty common building work projects for the home.

Make a planning application

You are also advised to view the online map [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/110/planning_applications/1333/online_planning_map] to check if your property is listed or in a conservation area.

If you want written confirmation that planning permission is not required, then you will need to submit a Certificate of Lawfulness.

You may also require building regulations [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/building-control/building-regulations-approval] consent for the works you are proposing.

How to make a planning application [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/110/planning_applications/163/making_a_planning_application].

Permitted Development rights for householders

You can sometimes extend your property without the need for planning permission. This is called Permitted Development.

This only ever applies if you live in a house or bungalow, not flats, maisonettes or houses in multiple occupation.

Sometimes a condition has been placed on the original approval for the house that does not allow this.

You can check, using our online planning map, [/info/487/planning_applications/1333/online_planning_map] to see if your property has its Permitted Development allowances removed. Once the map has loaded you will need to tick the 'Constraints' box on the map legend.

Areas of No Permitted Development will be marked with blue hatched lines.

If your property has Permitted Development allowances these links will help you to decide if your proposal needs planning permission.

• Planning Portal Householder Guides [https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects] (external site)- Planning and building regulations guidance for many common building work projects for the home.
• The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 [http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/responsibilities/planningpermission/permitted] (external site)
• Planning Portal - Greener Homes [https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200140/greener_homes] (external site) - Guidance for householders; providing advice on planning and building regulation matters for green energy projects and energy saving.

Informal advice

It is often useful to get advice before submitting a planning application to find out what level of application you might need. 

Although the Planning Team are unable to offer a detailed pre-application advice service, there is some information available to you that will help you to understand what is needed, depending on what application you are applying for.

Householder enquiry

• I would like advice about putting up a fence/wall [https://myaccount.coventry.gov.uk/en/service/planning_advice___I_would_like_advice_about_putting_up_a_fence_or_wall]
• I would like advice about Lawful Development [https://myaccount.coventry.gov.uk/en/service/planning_advice___I_would_like_to_find_out_about_Lawful_Development]
• I would like advice about making changes to my home [https://myaccount.coventry.gov.uk/en/service/planning_advice___I_would_like_advice_about_how_to_make_changes_to_my_home]
• I would like to put up a sign/advert [https://myaccount.coventry.gov.uk/en/service/planning_advice___I_wish_to_put_up_a_sign_or_advert_on_my_property]
• I would like to carry out a public search [https://myaccount.coventry.gov.uk/en/service/planning_advice___I_would_like_to_carry_out_a_public_search]
• I would like to find out about planning applications/records [https://myaccount.coventry.gov.uk/en/service/planning_advice___I_would_like_to_find_out_about_historic_planning_cases]

Commercial enquiry

Advertisements

• I would like to put up a sign/advert [https://myaccount.coventry.gov.uk/en/service/planning_advice___I_wish_to_put_up_a_sign_or_advert_on_my_property]

Minor pre-application advice

• I would like advice about putting up a fence/wall [https://myaccount.coventry.gov.uk/en/service/planning_advice___I_would_like_advice_about_putting_up_a_fence_or_wall]
• I would like to find out about Lawful Development [https://myaccount.coventry.gov.uk/en/service/planning_advice___I_would_like_to_find_out_about_Lawful_Development]
• I would like to find out about Planning application/records [https://myaccount.coventry.gov.uk/en/service/planning_advice___I_would_like_to_find_out_about_historic_planning_cases]
• I would like to carry out a property search [https://myaccount.coventry.gov.uk/en/service/planning_advice___I_would_like_to_carry_out_a_public_search]

Major pre-application advice

• Pre-app advice for large scale developments [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/110/planning_applications/3082/pre-application_advice]

Design guides

This householder design guidance [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/7483/householder-design-guide-spd] can be used when extending your home (houses, bungalows).

Dropped kerb - vehicular access

Please ensure you read this information with Highways advice [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/121/roads_highways_and_pavements/1767/vehicle_access_-_dropped_kerbs], who will also need to give separate consent for any works.

What is a dropped kerb?   

A dropped kerb allows vehicles to cross the pavement or footway to and from a driveway.

A standard width crossing is 2.75m at the property boundary and 4.5m at the kerb edge.

Your front garden will need to be a minimum of 4.0 metres deep at its shortest point by 2.4 metres wide, and set out at 90 degrees to the carriageway. 

Kerbs can only be dropped by applying through us - you must not carry out the work yourself. You may need planning permission if you are surfacing over your front garden or your property is on a classified or a trunk road.

Applying for a dropped kerb

Applying for a dropped kerb is a two-part process.

Permission for a dropped kerb application is not granted immediately.

The Planning department and the Highways department work to satisfy different criteria.

This means that your application for Planning must first be completed before the Highways team can address the application and give their own separate approval or refusal for the works to create a dropped kerb.

Part 1

To make the process of finding out which kind of planning permission you require easier, begin by using our guidance form.

Apply for dropped kerb (Part 1) [https://myaccount.coventry.gov.uk/en/service/apply_for_a_dropped_kerb___Part_1]

The form will guide you through the initial part of the process and will redirect you to the Planning Portal in order to make your application using the correct form, based on the answers you provide.

Part 2 - returning customers

If you are a returning customer, having now received a Planning Decision Letter, a Lawful Development certificate OR you have completed the online self-assessment [https://myaccount.coventry.gov.uk/en/service/apply_for_a_dropped_kerb___Part_1], please continue to the second half of the process.

Apply for dropped kerb (Part 2) [https://myaccount.coventry.gov.uk/en/service/apply_for_a_dropped_kerb___Part_2]

Please note that you will have had to complete the first half of the process by applying to Planning in order to complete the second form.

Further guidance

Hard surfacing in the front garden

Further guidance on hard surfacing of front gardens from the Planning Portal [https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/common_projects/45/paving_your_front_garden].

Find an architect

Coventry City Council do not endorse individual planning professionals.

However, if you are considering employing an architect, the Architects' Registration Board [http://www.architects-register.org.uk/] maintains a register listing every architect in the UK.

Prior approval and notification

Important information in respect of applications for prior notification/prior approval

We have reviewed how we deal with applications for prior notification/prior approval. We will no longer be issuing discrepancy letters to enable applicants to provide missing information and allow applications that are submitted with discrepancies to be validated. 

With immediate effect, we will be refusing applications for prior notification/prior approval which are incomplete.  We therefore encourage you to check the validation requirements for prior notifications/prior approvals as set out within the legislation and on the Planning Portal before submitting your application.  If there are any discrepancies your application will be refused.  Incomplete applications cannot be completed by the provision of additional information after submission.  If your application is refused, you will need to submit a new application and an additional application fee.

The required information includes evidence that any application fee has been paid.   Where the application fee has been paid online you should provide your proof of payment with your application submission.

In respect of applications for larger householder extensions, the following information must be submitted:-

(a)a written description of the proposed development including—

(i)how far the enlarged part of the dwellinghouse extends beyond the rear wall of the original dwellinghouse;

(ii)the maximum height of the enlarged part of the dwellinghouse; and

(iii)the height of the eaves of the enlarged part of the dwellinghouse;

(iv)where the enlarged part will be joined to an existing enlargement of the dwellinghouse, the information in sub-paragraphs (i) to (iii) must be provided in respect of the total enlargement (being the enlarged part together with the existing enlargement to which it will be joined);]

(b)a plan indicating the site and showing the proposed development and any existing enlargement of the original dwellinghouse to which the enlarged part will be joined];

(c)the addresses of any adjoining premises;

(d)the developer's contact address; and

(e)the developer's email address if the developer is content to receive communications electronically, together with any fee required to be paid.

Proposals where applicants must submit either a prior approval or prior notification form to the local planning authority prior to a development taking place. These include larger householder extensions, demolition and telecommunications.

Larger home extensions

Under the conditions set by permitted development legislation, householders can build larger single-storey rear extensions in certain circumstances. The Planning Portal has guidance on the conditions set [https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/common_projects/17/extensions/2], what is required and how to apply for larger home extensions.  

Interpretation of permitted development for larger household extensions where prior approval is required

Where a prior approval application shows the side wall of an original part of the dwellinghouse (outrigger/coal house/projecting wing to the rear) we will now consider whether the proposed rear extension would extend beyond this side wall and if the resulting extension has a width greater than half the width of the original dwellinghouse it will not be considered as permitted development and prior approval will be refused.

Statutory undertakers

Statutory undertakers such as utility companies have permitted development rights to carry out development under the General Permitted Development Order and Acts of Parliament. The Council's prior approval is needed for detailed design and external appearance of a new building. This can cover development such as electricity substations and telecommunication apparatus.

Apply

Planning Portal: prior approval and prior notification application forms and checklists including householder larger extensions, demolition and telecommunications [http://www.planningportal.co.uk/applications]

The quickest and easiest way to submit your application is online via the Planning Portal, guidance notes for completion are provided with the online forms.

Applications for prior approval/notification should be submitted in accordance with the requirements in our validation checklist [/downloads/file/34970/validation_checklist_version_4_-_7_january_2021].

Consent types not available through the online system and paper form chooser [https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200126/applications/61/paper_forms/2]. The Planning Portal has provided downloadable forms for submission.

Other application types associated with Prior Notification development

Application to notify the local planning authority of the completion of the development granted prior approval [/downloads/download/6738/prior_approval_and_notification_notify_local_planning_application]

Application for approval of a report for the management of the construction of the development (CEMP) [/downloads/download/6739/prior_approval_and_notification_approval_of_a_report_for_the_management_of_the_construction_of_the_development_cemp_application]

Fees

Download the fees schedule for application (PDF) [https://ecab.planningportal.co.uk/uploads/english_application_fees.pdf].

Further information and guidance on prior approval and notification is available on the Planning Portal [https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200126/applications/60/consent_types/10].