Planning permission for building work

Who deals with planning permission?

We do not deal with planning permission. The Planning Service does this. The Planning System controls

how we use land
what we build
and where we build it.

If you are intending to carry out building work to your property you may require planning permission as well as building control approval. You should get planning permission before applying to building control for approval under the building regulations. In general you need planning permission for:

all new buildings
and for most building works that change the appearance of a building from outside, such as extensions and dormer windows to a house.

In general planning permission is not required for:

changes to the inside of buildings
and some small alterations to the outside may be considered as permitted development.

For specific information and advice please contact:

Website: Planning Service
Telephone: 028 9025 2800

The Planning Service is an Agency within the Department of The Environment which prepares and adopts documents called development plans, and also administers a development control system that helps to balance the need for uses of land and buildings such as homes, offices, factories and schools with the wish to protect and improve the environment.

The Planning Service decides whether or not to allow proposals to build on land or change the use of buildings or land. Applications will be assessed and planning permission may be granted or refused.