Planning Applications



Planning Application

Making a Planning Permission:

Having the experience and the contact names within certain councils in the United Kingdom, this helps us know in advance what each council requires which saves time.

Within our design package we offer this service inclusive.

In some cases you may not always need planning permission; it is not required for changes to the interior of a building or for small changes to the outside except for grade II listed buildings please call us if you require further clarification.However Planning permission is required for structural changes within the interior.

Planning permission is also required if you need to change the front of the premises, like the signage, shop front or other exterior amendments.

If you go ahead with your development without the required permission, the local council or planning authority for your area may ask you to make a retrospective planning application.

If its decided that permission should not be granted it might require you to return things back to their original position.

You can appeal but if the verdict comes out against you and you still refuse to comply you may be prosecuted.

The decision for planning permission will be made within eight weeks. Large or complex applications may take longer.

Change of use are graded, they start as A1, if you wish to down grade a change of use you do not have to ask for permission, however you will still need to inform the council of any major interior changes.

Below is a table for the A classes with information on what they are and whether it is permitted to change without permission.

Class	Details Change	Permitted
A1: Shops and retail outlets A2: Financial and professional service	Internet services/ cafes to be classified as A1. Otherwise A1 to remain the same To remain as it is	No Permitted change Permitted to change to A1 only (where a ground floor window displays exists)
(New) A3: Restaurants and Cafes	Where the primary purpose is the sale and consumption of hot food on the premises	Permitted to change to A1 or A2
(New) A4: Pubs and bars	Where the primary purpose is the sale/consumption of alcohol on the premises	Permitted change to A1, A2, or A3.
(New) A5: Takeaways	Where the primary purpose is the sale of hot food for taking away	Permitted change to A1, A2, or A3
Sui Generis	Warehouse clubs to be classified as sui generic. Motor vehicle show rooms

The premise licence continues as B1, B2, C and D, D also includes hotels.

Some areas or high streets restrict certain premise licence because too many exist already and it saturates the area with that certain licence.

For example some authorities find it very important to have a certain number of A1 retail outlets within a high street; in that case no other licence can be permitted if it means losing the amount permitted for A1 licences. However if you can argue, and make it apparent, why it is more valuable or beneficial to have your premise there they may grant you the change of use.

Before you negotiate a lease or buy a property, it may be advisable to consider whether you need to obtain planning permission for your intended use and, if so what are your chances of getting it.

If you take on the licence as it is and do not want to go for change of use, you may not be obligated to comply to certain new rules by the council such as DDA, disabled discrimination act. You may not have to have a disabled toilet, you may not have to have a ramp for entrance for disabled, and you may not have to have a lift to access other levels of your premises. Or any other new rules that your council has made mandatory.