If your proposal for planning permission or building regulations approval is solely for extensions or alterations to a disabled person’s house to improve access, safety or comfort then you are exempt from paying a planning or building control fee. Additionally, if you are providing means of access for disabled persons to public buildings you are exempt from any fee.

Note that for building regulations approval, you will only be exempt when applying to a local authority building control body.

Many homeowners choose to replace their traditional polycarbonate conservatory roof with a solid tiled roof for better thermal efficiency.

If the change significantly alters the structure or appearance of the roof, then planning permission may be required. Most alterations to roofs are considered permitted development, providing they meet the limits set out in legislation.

A new roof must comply with building regulations to ensure it is structurally safe, energy efficient and properly ventilated.

‍

A soakaway does not normally require an application for planning permission provided it deals with surface water and does not discharge into a public sewer. Additional regulations may apply if you are in a conservation area or within the boundary of a listed building.

Building regulations will apply to the creation of a soakaway. The soakaway must comply with Part H of the building regulations which specifies where they can be located and the size that is permitted.

Read more about Approved Document H.

‍

Once submitted, your planning application first goes through a validation process. After its validated, the formal decision period is 8 weeks. However, in some cases, especially for more complex proposals or if further information is needed, your local authority may request an extension of time.

Understand more about the decision-making process on Planning Portal

Your planning application must be made up of:

• The necessary plans of the site
• The required supporting documentation
• The completed form
• The correct fee.

The local planning authority will not be able to process your application unless the mandatory supporting documentation has been provided. You can also attach any other relevant documentation which you think will help the local authority determine the application.

What supporting documentation must be provided depends on the application type,  development type and local planning authority.

There are two levels of mandatory documents, national and local. If you’re applying online, the service will tell you what mandatory documentation you need to provide and allows you to attach the relevant documents. Most applications will require you to provide a location plan and a site plan.

In addition to the national list, your LPA may produce a list which details any specific documentation that is required to accompany the application. The requirements may vary according to the type of application, i.e. household, full, outline, etc. If you are applying online, this list is available from the supporting documents screen or your local planning authority’s website.

For more information around what to submit visit the how to apply section on Planning Portal.