Great Yarmouth Borough Council

You will need to apply for planning permission to carry out most building work or to carry out any material change of use of a building or land, but there are some exceptions. These are set out in various legislative documents. The legislation is complex and you are therefore advised to submit any proposals in writing or if you are proposing to alter or extend your house to submit a preliminary enquiry form. (Please contact us for guidance or to request forms - or download forms from this web site.)

You may also require building regulation consent, advertisement consent, listed building consent, conservation area consent or consent to fell or carry out works to a tree covered by a tree preservation order or located in a conservation area

Because there are so many possible variations of work or uses which may either need planning permission but not building regulations consent, building regulations consent but not planning permission, both, or neither - things can become a little confusing! Find out about the difference between planning consent and building regulation approval.

If you are proposing to alter or extend your house we operate a preliminary enquiry system to help you find out whether planning permission or building regulation consent is required. You complete a
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preliminary enquiry form (PDF format) (274kb) giving details of the work and then we check the requirements for you, and notify you of what (if any) consent.is needed. We recommend that you use the preliminary enquiry system even for simple works, as our written confirmation (particularly if an application is not required) is often needed by solicitors when a property is later sold or for claims on insurance policies (see above on how to obtain form).

If you are proposing any other works or a change of use, write to us with details and we will explain whether planning permission, building regulation consent or any other consents are required from the Borough Council and forward the appropriate application forms.

We advise you always to use our preliminary enquiry system in respect of proposed works to your house, unless you are sure both planning permission and building regulation consent are required. The preliminary enquiry form (PDF format) can be downloaded from this web site, or you may contact us to request a copy.

We also actively encourage pre-application discussions on the likelihood of permission being granted. You are therefore advised to contact us by telephone or in writing for further advice in this respect. If you send sketches of your proposals this will help us to understand what you want to do.

When you are sure you are ready to apply for planning permission, please click here for the relevant forms. There are also notes and a fees scale to help you. You can simply download the forms, fill them in and post your application to the Borough Council together with the relevant fee, site plans and drawings.

For further information please contact us.

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