Getting Planning Permission For a New Build House

Whether you are a homeowner looking to build your home or a developer pursuing a residential development, the planning process can be very stressful.

It is not easy to obtain planning permission for a new build house. This requires hours of research, writing, design, and hours of collaborative problem solving and review.

You may end up overwhelmed by a mountain of policy documents and jargon if you don’t have the right resources or professional assistance. You can’t skip this step because you cannot build a house on your land without proper planning permission and may not be financially able to do it yourself and risk losing thousands of pounds on a lengthy and painful process.

What are you supposed to do?

It is an excellent suggestion to hire professional architects or planning consultants. They have a deep understanding of the planning process and all the complexities surrounding it. In addition, you may wish to familiarize yourself with the many stages of the planning process.

We will address some of the most critical questions that might help you obtain planning permission for a new built house.

What is a New Build House?

First, let’s get our definitions straight. What is a “new build house”?

It is exactly what it sounds and means: A residential building that is an entirely new structure that has never existed before. This does not include conversions or changes to existing buildings.

This term is probably familiar to you as new-build houses are constantly in the news. In order to stabilize the UK’s housing market, the government has tried to increase the number of houses built. The following are the requirements for a new house being built:

• The foundations
• The house’s structure
• All fixtures and fittings
• You can find facilities such as water, gas, and electricity.
• Access to the new house and back

You will need permission to build a new house for yourself, your family, or investors.

What is planning permission?

Planning permission is granted by the local authority to allow you to build a property that is a specific size and on a particular plot. To obtain planning permission to build a new house, you will need to submit a planning application. This should be done with the assistance of professional architects or planning consultants.

Only certain issues can be considered when a decision is taken on a planning application. These issues are commonly referred to as “material plan considerations”. These material conditions may relate to your project. It is up to your planning authority to determine how much weight to give to these material considerations in the case.

• Sunlight loss
• Overlooking privacy and its loss
• Noise or disturbance
• Physical infrastructure capacity
• Conservation areas and listed buildings have an impact
• Layout and density of the building design, visual appearance, and finishing materials
• Overshadowing and loss in outlook
• Highway safety, traffic generation and vehicular access issues
• Fumes or smells
• Tree loss or other consequences
• Incompatible or unacceptable uses
• Handling hazardous materials, storage and development of contaminated soil

Keep in mind that your project will be subjected to local and national policy requirements. It’s important to do extensive research.

What’s the point of building a new house?

Building a new house may seem like a weird choice when there are so many houses to pick from currently. This means you have to go out and find the land, get permission, and then source a builder who can complete the project within your budget. Pre-built homes are less stressful than new builds, so why not buy them?

Here’s why…

Bespoke Living

A house designed for you has many benefits, both functional and aesthetic. We will make sure that your design is practical and meets your needs, whether the colour of the walls, furniture and lighting, arrangement, etc. The property will be tailored to your requirements and allow you to express your wishes.

We can help you adapt your home to accommodate a wheelchair or make it single-floor living. You can make a large kitchen a priority during the design process. You can also request a separate dining and kitchen area. Do you need three bathrooms? It’s possible to have three bathrooms. Let your architect know, and they will try to incorporate it.

Affordable Housing

Building your house yourself or hiring someone to do it for you can save lots of money. You can purchase the land and gain permission to sell it for a profit without actually building anything. The land’s value will increase if you purchase it without permission.

Building a new home, rather than buying from developers or purchasing a house someone else lives in, can be a cost-effective option to purchasing a property. Your new house can give you valuable equity if you negotiate well and plan properly.

Who can help me?

You will need to seek the advice of professionals as you work towards planning permission. Below is a list of people you might meet along your journey with your new build.

Planning Officer

A planning officer from your local authority is the first person you should consider speaking to. They are often very generous with their time and may even arrange to meet you at the site to discuss any ideas or proposals. You can share your ideas with the officer if you have any specific requirements. They will then give you an idea of the process.

This will give you a bit of an advantage. Leave it out if they tell you it’s forbidden. Make a note of any suggestions they provide you for improving the application. Your application is more likely to be approved if you have more information. Keep in mind that you haven’t yet spent a penny on the building project.

Skilled Architect

A skilled architect is essential. It is impossible to overestimate the value of their suggestions and assistance in putting your ideas on paper. A skilled architect can also help you to get your application approved.

They will listen to your concerns and take note of what you want and also help you find the best solution for your needs and those of the council.

They should also have the experience to submit applications to the local planning authority. You can get advice from them on the best materials to use in order to improve your chances of submitting a successful application. A skilled architect can help you achieve your goals and meet the standards of your local council. You will also save more than what they charge for their professional services.

 What are the Different Types of Permission?

Just because you have planning permission to build a house, it doesn’t mean that you are ready to start building. It all depends on what type of planning permission you have received.

There are two types of planning permission.

Permission for Outline Planning

We’ll start with the outline planning permission. This is like putting your toe in the water to determine if you have any chance of getting planning approval for your new house. This type of application can be submitted as a test to see if you are able to get detailed planning permission.

Permission for detailed planning

You can start to work once you have received the detailed permission. This permits you to build exactly as shown on the plans, making your dream home a reality.

Your architect must create a perfect plan for this type of project. This includes taking into account everything above, from the restrictions of your planning authority to your desired results. You can get planning permission for your new house by hiring the right architect with the right design.

What’s next?

Once the plans have been approved by you and your architect has drawn them up, you will submit them to the appropriate planning authority. Submittal fees start at £300. You should verify with your local authority for exact information.

The Waiting Game

They have 16 weeks to make a decision. At that time, They will:

• Visit the site
• Take a look at the plans
• Evaluate the neighbourhood’s impact
• Cross-reference your proposal with their criteria

As a result, a suitable choice may be reached. Although the 8 weeks is not fixed, there are strong incentives from the central government to ensure that it happens. You will find out the status of your application in less than two months.

The advantage of the 8-week time frame is that it allows you to learn about the decision swiftly. The downside is that planning departments don’t have as much time to meet with you, ask for amendments, or negotiate as they would have in the past.

The Appealing Factor

You can appeal against a decision that doesn’t agree with you if your application is denied. This is a free review of your application by a neutral party, someone who was not involved in the original decision. The appeal is not likely to succeed because the criteria used by the appellant will be the same ones as those used by the original planning authority. It is better to do it right the first attempt, with the guidance and support of someone who has done this before.

What if I am a developer?

You will have your own problems if you build more than one house. It is the same decision, but it is on a larger scale.

Parking is an even more critical consideration if you have multiple houses. It is also necessary to think about traffic management. Remember that Neighbours are entitled to peace and quiet during construction.

A skilled architect is a must for developers. The risks and costs can be even higher. Before you submit an application, make sure you are fully informed about how to obtain planning permission for large-scale new builds.

How Udex can help get planning permission for a new house

Udex’s team of engineers, architects, planners, and designers are equipped to turn your ideas into reality. Get in touch with us today to Get Started.

Get a quote today to discover more about your project and get a Udex expert.

You might also enjoy the Udex blogs, which is sent out weekly by email. Get in touch by simply filling out the Udex blog registration form.