Do retaining walls require planning permission?

[DevilDamo]

Due to the unhelpfulness of one borough's planning officer who replies to me with their standard garbage (i.e. Certificate of Lawfulness, Planning application, Planning Portal), they have been unable to tell me a yes/no answer to this... so what do you think? Is an application required?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

If the walls exceed the heights allowed under Permitted Development. ie it would be over 1 metre high and next to a highway used by vehicles (or the footpath of such a highway); or over 2 metres high elsewhere.

Of course now I suppose you're going to ask is it 2m from the high side or the low side?

 

[DevilDamo]

Haha!

I had to obtain planning approval for retaining walls I was involved in on a job last year and they were well within the PP requirements. I have a similar situation now, hence asking the question.

 

[DevilDamo]

Right, I've spoken to another LA who I deal with on many occasions and as I used to work there, I know all the planners/BCO's on first name terms so they're a lot more helpful than any other LA's.

This LA have said they wouldn't worry about retaining walls and can't understand why the other LA are kicking up a fuss about it.

So... what I'm going to do is apply for a Certificate of Lawfulness, which will cover the extension, loft conversion and retaining wall works as I'm 99% confident the extension/loft conversion works are PD.