Advice Hub / Planning permission
Planning permission or permitted development: where should you start?
“Will we need planning permission?” is a sensible early question when you are thinking about changing your home. The answer depends on the property, the work proposed and the planning controls affecting it.
This guide explains the main distinctions for projects in England, with local context for Worcester, Wychavon, Malvern Hills and Herefordshire. It is a starting point for understanding the process. The route for your property needs checking against the actual proposal and current rules.
Planning guidance reviewed: 8 September 2026.
What does permitted development mean?
Permitted development rights grant planning permission for certain types of work through national rules, provided all the relevant conditions and limitations are met. They can allow some projects to proceed without a full planning application.
That makes “permission or permitted development” a slightly misleading choice. Permitted development is itself a form of planning permission. The useful question is whether your proposal benefits from those rights or requires a separate application.
Some permitted development routes also require a prior approval process before work begins. It is important to identify the procedure as well as check the proposed dimensions.
Why the property matters as much as the extension
The householder rules contain several tests, rather than a single allowance that applies to every house. The original building, previous additions, height, position, boundaries and the amount of land covered can all affect the assessment.
There may also be restrictions through a planning condition or an Article 4 direction, which removes specified permitted development rights. Conservation areas and other protected locations have additional limitations for certain work. Not every right disappears in a conservation area, so the particular proposal still needs checking.
Householder rights should not be assumed to apply to flats, maisonettes or buildings converted through particular permitted development routes. Start with the building’s planning history and status.
This is why copying the size of a neighbour’s extension is not a reliable test. Their house, permission and planning history may be different.
When might a householder application be needed?
An extension or external alteration that falls outside the applicable permitted development rights may need a householder planning application. The council assesses the proposal against the relevant planning framework and other material considerations.
Design, the relationship with the existing house and effects on neighbours can be important. Privacy, daylight and the apparent bulk of a proposal are different issues. An obscure-glazed window, for example, does not settle every concern about the size or position of the building around it.
Going through a planning application can allow a proposal to be considered on its merits beyond the permitted development limits. It is not a guarantee that a larger or different scheme will be acceptable.
What is prior approval?
Prior approval is a process attached to certain permitted development rights. The council considers the matters specified for that route, and the development must also satisfy its eligibility requirements.
Some larger home extensions use a prior approval process involving neighbour consultation. Class Q, for eligible agricultural buildings changing to homes, is another example with different tests.
Neither should be treated as a way to begin work while the planning position is unresolved. Establish the applicable procedure and when the work may lawfully start. For a rural building, our barn conversion page explains the wider feasibility questions.
How can a lawful development certificate help?
A proposed lawful development certificate can provide a formal council decision on whether specified proposed work would be lawful for planning purposes. It can be useful where you intend to rely on permitted development rights and want a clear record.
The assessment is about the lawfulness of the described proposal, rather than whether the council likes its design. Accurate drawings and the relevant evidence matter. The work carried out must match the certified proposal and the applicable requirements.
A certificate does not replace other necessary consents or establish every private right affecting a property.
Is building regulations approval the same thing?
No. Planning and building regulations are separate systems. A project that uses permitted development can still require building regulations approval.
For example, removing a structural wall inside a home may raise building regulations questions even where a planning application is not required. The necessary design and building control arrangements should be considered before work starts.
Our project stages guide explains how technical information fits into the journey after the initial design and planning work.
What if the house is listed?
Listed building consent is separate from planning permission. Alterations affecting a listed building’s special architectural or historic interest can require consent, including work inside.
Do not assume an internal change is exempt because it cannot be seen from the road. Equally, the position should be assessed against the actual work rather than treating every maintenance task as identical. Discuss the proposals and the need for consent with the relevant council before proceeding.
Which local council should we check?
Use the property’s actual location, rather than relying on its postal town. Worcester City Council, Wychavon District Council and Malvern Hills District Council share the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review, adopted in March 2026. Relevant neighbourhood plans and site constraints also need checking.
Herefordshire Council operates a separate planning framework. At the review date, its adopted Core Strategy remains in place while a new Local Plan is being prepared. South Worcestershire policies should not be applied to a Herefordshire property.
Local mapping and the planning application record help identify issues, but they need to be read alongside the relevant documents and the details of the proposed work.
What else might need attention?
Depending on the project, party wall procedures, protected trees, ecology, drainage arrangements or private covenants and access rights may need separate consideration. A planning decision does not resolve all of these matters.
Make a list of the checks your project needs, who will handle them and when. This is more useful than treating a planning decision as a single permission to do everything.
A few common questions
Does my neighbour’s agreement mean I can build?
No. A supportive conversation is helpful, but it does not replace the applicable planning or other requirements. The position must be checked for the proposed work.
Can I change the design once permission is granted?
Check first. Some changes require a further application or other planning procedure. Keep the design team and builder working from the correct agreed information.
Does a free initial conversation confirm my project is permitted development?
It can help identify the questions to investigate. A dependable assessment may need drawings, records and further checks within an agreed scope. We will explain what is needed to reach that point.
Let’s establish a useful starting point
Tell us about your property and the changes you have in mind. We’ll discuss your priorities, answer initial questions and explain how we can help. This first conversation is free of charge. From there, we’ll arrange a site visit to understand the property and explore the next steps, with the scope and any charges explained beforehand.
Discuss your project, email us or call us.