Extending business premises

The General Permitted Development Order indicates when, in general, an application for permission will or will not be required. It is likely that most extensions to business premises will require planning permission.

You are recommended to apply for a Lawful Development Certificate to ensure the work is permitted development, in other words, does not need planning permission.

Building new premises

The construction of new premises nearly always needs an application for planning permission. The policies within the Unitary Development Plan will give you some indication of whether your proposal is likely to be acceptable, so it is worth talking to a planning officer before submitting an application. If there are difficulties, officers may be able to suggest ways to make your proposal more acceptable.