Get planning in place first time

FOLLOW THESE TACTICS TO GET YOUR APPLICATION APPROVED BY THE PLANNERS FIRST TIME AROUND

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While there are plenty of home improvements you can make without needing to submit a planning application first, larger projects or improvements undertaken in a particular area of the country will require you to apply for consent. If your proposed project doesn't fall under Permitted Development rules, you'll need to apply to your local authority for planning permission. And if this is your first time, it can be incredibly daunting. While every project is different, and there can be many variables involved in the planning process, we've got some tips to help you improve your chances of application success first time around.

1 GET ADVICE BEFORE YOU START

The world of planning consent can be a minefield, so it's sensible to get as much help as you can. Most local planning authorities offer a pre-application advice service where you can speak to a planning officer about your project before you submit a formal application. While using this service doesn't come with an automatic guarantee of approval, it can be a good way to understand any issues that might become sticking points and address them before entering the formal process.

Jason Corbett, owner of Rowallan Buying Agents, says: 'Check the local authority's guidelines to understand what's typically approved or rejected within your specific area.' He adds: 'One of the main reasons planning applications are rejected is because they negatively affect the neighbours, so think about whether your project will block their sunlight, overlook their outdoor spaces and create privacy issues, or whether it's right for the space. Discuss any plans with your neighbours to assess how supportive they are.'

2 DO YOU ACTUALLY NEED PLANNING PERMISSION?