Answer six quick questions about your home and project. You will get an instant guide to whether you are likely to need planning permission, a party wall notice, or both, with links to your council.
Last updated: 22 October 2026
Use a postcode district only, for example SW11. You do not need to enter your full postcode.
Question 1 of 6
This is an initial guide based on your answers. Confirm the details with your council or a planning professional before work starts.
Every one of these projects needs Building Regulations approval. Some streets have Article 4 directions that remove permitted development rights, so check with your council.
Guidance only. Planning rules change and every property is different. Always confirm with your council or a planning professional before starting work.
Our team can visit, look at your property and tell you exactly what you will need. It is free and there is no obligation.
Permitted development lets you carry out some extensions and loft conversions without a full planning application, provided you stay within national size limits. It does not apply to flats, and it is restricted in conservation areas.
For single-storey rear extensions between 3 and 6 metres (or 4 and 8 metres on a detached house), you can ask the council for prior approval instead of full planning. Your neighbours are consulted. It is not available in conservation areas.
A certificate from your council confirming your project is permitted development. It is optional, but buyers' solicitors often ask for one.
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 sets out how to carry out work on or near a shared wall or boundary in England and Wales. You must serve notice on your neighbours before you start. If they agree, work can go ahead. If they do not respond or they dissent, surveyors agree a party wall award.
For most householder applications, the council's target is 8 weeks from validation.
The notice periods are one or two months depending on the work. If a surveyor's award is needed, allow extra time.
No. It is a guide based on national rules and local council guidance. Confirm with your council or a planning professional before you start.
Our team can visit, look at your property and talk you through the next steps. It is free and there is no obligation.