20th December 2021
These are the areas with the most planning permission breaches (& why you shouldn't cut corners)
GetAgent has collected data from local authorities in the UK to reveal the areas most guilty of breaching planning permission:
Top 10 areas with the most planning permission breaches
|
Rank |
Area |
Planning breach complaints 2016-2020 |
Cases where action was taken/enforcement notices served 2016-2020 |
% of complaints that led to action taken/ enforcement notices |
|
1 |
City of Westminster |
10,094 |
4,740 |
47% |
|
2 |
Birmingham |
7,991 |
139 |
2% |
|
3 |
Hammersmith and Fulham |
6,887 |
61 |
1% |
|
4 |
Ealing |
6,092 |
927 |
15% |
|
5 |
Camden |
6,062 |
348 |
6% |
|
6 |
Newham |
5,252 |
21 |
0% |
|
7 |
Havering |
4,567 |
284 |
6% |
|
8 |
Bromley |
3,938 |
325 |
8% |
|
9 |
Leicester |
3,635 |
70 |
2% |
|
10 |
Blackpool |
3,169 |
111 |
4% |
The full research also reveals the areas with the most PDR applications from office to residential (and vice versa) as well as applications for large household extensions and retail to residential.
You can see the full research here.
“A planning breach in itself is not illegal, however, if the breach involved a previously rejected development the council can issue an enforcement notice, which requires you to reference any changes. It is illegal to disobey an enforcement notice unless it is successfully appealed against. A person guilty is liable to an unlimited fine.
Going through the correct process and obtaining planning permission before renovating your property can give you time to slow down the process and plan for the future. The planning permission application can also help reveal any unexpected issues early on, like building restrictions or conditions in your contract. One benefit is letting your neighbours know about the work you intend to do and considering how the design might look with the other houses on your street. You may not even need the local authorities permission to carry out the work, however the local planning authority will still need to determine ‘prior approval’ beforehand.
Permitted development rights (PDR) allow certain changes to be made to buildings without needing to submit a formal application for planning permission. Permitted development rights are authorised under the government. Some cover the conversion of residential properties to commercial space, while others may cover home improvements like extensions
Having authorised planning permission on your home can increase the value of the property and encourage a quicker sale. Many people are keen to expand their homes, so having the permission in place already could make the property much more appealing to buyers. It takes away the question of whether it would be granted in the future and allows them to visualise the space in the future.