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Do I need permission to remove chimney breasts?
Planning permission is not required to remove an internal chimney breast as the change does not impact the exterior of the house. Rules may differ if you are planning on removing the chimney stack, or if you are in a conservation area.
If you live in a listed building, then you will need to apply for listed building consent for any major changes to the building.
Building regulations approval will always apply when removing chimney breasts as they are part of the building’s structure. You should seek advice from a structural engineer who will provide drawings and calculations that can be submitted as part of your application.
Common Questions
Land and buildings are categorised by their type and purpose through a system known as ‘use classes’. A 'Change of use' can be within the same Use Class or from one Use Class to another.
You can find a full list of use classes and change of use scenarios related to planning on the Planning Portal website.
If you want formal confirmation that the existing use of a building is lawful for planning purposes, or that your proposed development does not require planning permission, you can apply for a Lawful Development Certificate(LDC). An LDC can be useful in situations where you need assurance that a particular use, operation, or development is lawful under planning legislation.
Read more about Lawful Development Certificates.
Applications for a Lawful Development Certificate can be submitted online to your local council using Planning Portal. You must include enough detail and evidence to support your case; if the information is insufficient, your application may be refused.
Planning permission is not required for the installation of a stair lift, however, if you live in a listed building, you will have to apply for listed building consent for any significant works, whether internal or external.
Stairlifts must be installed in line with BS EN 81-40:2020 which focuses on safety requirements for the installation of stairlifts.
In many cases, you can build a porch without planning permission under permitted development rights, provided certain criteria are met. To qualify as permitted development, your proposed porch must:
- Not exceed three square metres in external ground area
- Be no taller than three metres in height
- Be located at least two metres away from any boundary with a highway
Read more about porches on Planning Portal
Your gas meter should only be moved by your energy supplier or your local gas network operator. For more information contact your energy supplier to understand if they can move it based on your requirements.
Full details on gas safety and planning can be found on our utilities common project.
