Is it possible to extend planning permission ?

[wytco0]

I have full planning permission to build a house in South Norfolk, the permission lapses next April.

Although I hope to be able to start work by then it may not be possible.

So I am looking at options and I have a few questions:

1) Is there any way of getting the period of my planning permission extended?
2) What constitutes start of works as far as planning permissions is concerned?
3) What do I have to do if the permission lapses? do I have to go through the full process again?

Thanks.

 

[^woody^]

You can't extend the permission. Unless work is started, it will lapse and require a new application - with no guarantee that it will be approved again.

To enact the permission all you need to do is "significantly" start the work - which generally means laying some foundations. Then there is no time limit to complete

 

[mikric]

1) Is there any way of getting the period of my planning permission extended?

Some good porn pics of someone high up at your local council might swing it

 

[spongobongo]

Under the new Statutory Instrument 2009 No. 2261 (google it!), from 1 October 2009 you will be able to extend your permission from three to five years.

As yet, the fee for such an application has not been agreed, but the consulation document produced by Communities and Local Government suggests £50 for a householder application.

Alternatively, if you can't spare £50, Woody's suggestion of digging foundations would count as implementation of the current permission.

 

[^woody^]

I did not know that that legislation was in yet. I thought it was still under consideration/consultation awaiting assessment of how the recession will affect developers enacting existing permissions

 

[AndrewSchofield]

Under the new Statutory Instrument 2009 No. 2261 (google it!), from 1 October 2009 you will be able to extend your permission from three to five years.

As yet, the fee for such an application has not been agreed, but the consulation document produced by Communities and Local Government suggests £50 for a householder application.

Alternatively, if you can't spare £50, Woody's suggestion of digging foundations would count as implementation of the current permission.

This is interesting, as Woody said, had heard this had been proposed but didn't realise it was definately coming into force. Are these applications just a formality then or can LAs refuse to extend from 3 to 5 years (with justified reasoning)?

 

[spongobongo]

Yes, they are essentially a formality. But - as with all things in planning - the applications will still be subject to public consultation so that Mr and Mrs NIMBY can lodge vexatious objections. That's means the applications will still take quite some time to get through the system. There would have to be exceptional circumstance to refuse a request for an extension of time.

For the record, the legislation comes into force on 1 October 2009 but it is likely that the fees will change in the following months. The reason for that is that the government will need to go back to Parliament before increasing the fees (and our MPs are all on holiday at the moment). The good news is that householder fees are likely to remain at £50. It's major applications where the fees will rocket.

 

[wytco0]

Just to close out my original question, we managed to start the work in March this year and so didnt have to deal with the prmission lapsing.

Its good to know that there is now a way of extending the permission.