You will not need planning permission if a new or replacement driveway of any size uses permeable (or porous) surfacing which allows water to drain through, or if the rainwater is directed to a lawn or border to drain naturally.

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If the surface to be covered is more than five square metres planning permission will be needed for laying traditional, impermeable driveways that do not provide for the water to run to a permeable area.

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This guidance applies to houses, there are different rules for flats and maisonettes, converted houses, new houses or areas where there permitted development rights may be restricted.

Read about paving your front garden

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You may need to consider if a dropped kerb is required, largely dropped kerbs are not a planning matter but you will need to apply to your local council.  

Find out more about dropped kerbs

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An improvement notice is a notice served by a local authority requiring a property owner to carry out specified works to bring a building into compliance with the legal standards. These are most commonly served to landlords to make a building safe.

The notice will specify what works should be completed and when it should begin and be completed by.

Failure to comply with an improvement notice is a criminal offence.

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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.

Rendering or cladding the exterior walls of your house may fall under permitted development rights, meaning an application for planning permission is not required provided you meet certain limits and requirements set out in legislation.

If you live in a listed building, you will need listed building consent for any significant works whether internal or external.

If you live in a Conservation Area, a National Park, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or the Broads, you will need to apply for planning permission before cladding the outside of your house with stone, artificial stone, pebble dash, render, timber, plastic or tiles.

Outside these areas, cladding may be carried out without having to first apply for planning permission provided the materials are of a similar appearance to those used in the construction of the house.

If the new materials will not have a similar appearance to those previously used you will be required to submit an application for planning permission.

Read more about change to external walls on our common project.

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Replacing existing render

Replacing existing render on the outside of your house with render of a similar appearance will not require planning permission as it is considered permitted development.

If you are changing the external appearance of the house or in a protected area such as a conservation area, then planning permission will be required. The external appearance of the house is likely to be changed when you are changing the type or colour of the render.

If the building is listed, then you will need listed building consent.

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By law, any planning permission granted expires after a certain period. Generally, unless your permission says otherwise, you have three years from the date it's granted to begin the development. If you haven't started work by then, you will probably need to reapply.