Applying for Planning Permission
Do I need planning permission?
The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order gives permission to householders to carry out certain limited forms of development without the need to make an application to a local planning authority. This permission does not apply to flats or commercial properties.
Guidance on whether common projects around your house require planning permission can be found at the planning portal website on their Common Building Work Projects page; a link to which can be found at the bottom of this page.
There is also an interactive visual guide which gives the same information; a link to which can also be found at the bottom of this page.
If you are unsure whether you require planning permission you can ask for our informal advice by:
- Writing to us at:
Development Control,
Guildhall 2
Kingston upon Thames
Surrey
KT1 1EU - Coming to see us at the above address where we operate a drop-in service at our Environment Services Reception on the 2nd Floor from 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 4:45pm on Friday.
- Phoning us on 020 8547 5330
- Or emailing us on dc@rbk.kingston.gov.uk
If you would like a formal determination you must apply for a Lawful Development Certificate (which can be found on our Planning Application Forms page). A Lawful Development Certificate can be included as part of a Home Information Pack should you come to sell your house as proof that the work did not require planning permission.
Please note that the rules surrounding what is permitted development changed on the 1st October 2008. If you obtained a certificate of lawfulness for proposed works and did not start the works before this date you should reapply as it may be that your development may not be lawful under the new rules. Conversly if your application was not lawful the changes to the rules may have been beneficial to you.
What will the fee be?
The fees for planning applications and advertisement consents are given at the bottom of this page. Please note these fees will change on the 6 April 2008 and all applications RECEIVED after this date will be charged at the new rate. If you are unsure on which fees apply for your application there is a fees calculator on the planning portal website a link to which can be found at the bottom of this page.
How to submit applications
We have now stopped issuing our old forms in paper format and will for electronic submissions via the planning portal on the 24 March 2008, but we will accept applications made on our old forms up to the 6 May.
Copies of these forms can be found by following the links on the left.
Please make sure you have checked the appropriate validation checklist before submitting your application as they will provide you with useful guidance on what information we require you to submit. These checklists do not become mandatory until the 6th April 2008. They are currently in draft format and the final version will be issued shortly.
Please note: If you do not send all the information we need, your application will be deemed invalid.
You may submit your application in any of the following ways:
- Online via the Planning Portal at www.planningportal.gov.uk
- By post to: Development Control, Guildhall 2, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 1EU
- By hand at the Environment Services Reception on the 2nd Floor at the above address