Permitted development rights for householders

 You can make certain types of minor changes to your house without needing to apply for planning permission. These are called permitted development rights.

Most houses benefit from permitted development rights. However, permitted development rights do not apply if you live in a:

• flat
• maisonette
• mobile home
• caravan

Planning portal

The Planning Portal provides an interactive tool that provides guidance on permitted development rights for many common household projects. 

Interactive tool for planning permission

You can find out more about permitted development rights on the Planning Portal website.

Council house residents

Please note that if you are a council house resident you will need to complete a Tenant Improvement and Alteration form before carrying out any works regardless of whether planning permission is required or not.  Further information is available on our housing pages.

Requirements 

There are different requirements for permitted development rights, depending on the location and nature of your property, which you can find out about using the headings below.

Conservation area

You can find out if your property is in a conservation area by using our online map of New Forest.

Listed buildings

You can find out if your property is a listed building by searching The National Heritage List.

Cranbourne Chase

You can find out if your property is within the Cranbourne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty by checking the area's boundaries on the Cranbourne Chase website.

Permitted development rights removed

Planning conditions can remove permitted development rights on the original or subsequent planning permission of a property. These rights can also be removed where we have made an Article 4 Direction. 

To find out whether conditions removing permitted development rights have been applied to your property, if you know the application number you can use the online planning register.  Or you can request a history search for your property by emailing planning@nfdc.gov.uk and we will send you a list of all the relevant planning permissions.

Note that the records may be incomplete, and the council accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions within the register.

You can also find out where we have made an Article 4 Direction by using our online map of New Forest.

Permitted development rights and compliance with the habitats regulations

The General Permitted Development Order (GPDO) allows for the change of use of some buildings and land to Class C3 (dwellinghouses) with this development subject to a prior approval process. However the Habitats Regulations also apply to such developments. You can find out more details on what you are required to do to comply with the .

How do I comply with the habitats regulations

Permitted development rights and the Community Infrastructure Levy

Community Infrastructure Levy Development commenced under general consent is liable to pay CIL. 'General consent' includes permitted development rights granted under the The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended).  Further information is available below:

Information on CIL and permitted development