Free planning check
Understand your likely planning route.
The checker applies national permitted development rules to your answers, explains the result in plain English, and identifies the local checks you may still need to make.
What the checker does
Enter your postcode and answer questions about the property and proposed works. The checker uses those answers to assess the likely route under national planning rules for England. It takes about five minutes and does not require an account.
Included
- House extensions and porches
- Loft conversions
- Outbuildings and garden offices
- Internal works
- Solar panels and heat pumps
- Small residential new-build and conversion routes
Not currently supported
- Basement projects
- Schemes of 10 or more homes
- Commercial or mixed-use development
- Listed building consent assessments
- Projects outside England
Local constraints must be checked separately
The checker does not automatically verify conservation areas, Article 4 directions, listed status, flood zones or every local policy. It relies on the answers you provide. Confirm those records on your council’s website before relying on the result.
How to read your result
The result is a structured starting point. It helps you identify the likely route and the next question to resolve; it is not planning permission or professional advice.
No planning required
Your answers indicate that the proposal is likely to fall within permitted development rights.
Next: Confirm local constraints and consider a Lawful Development Certificate if you need formal evidence.
Planning required
One or more parts of the proposal fall outside the relevant permitted development limits.
Next: Review the council’s application requirements and consider professional advice before committing to the design.
Prior Approval required
The proposal may use a permitted development route that still requires notification to the council.
Next: Check the council’s prior approval requirements and complete the process before starting work.
Maybe — local check needed
A local designation, Article 4 direction or another fact could change the planning route.
Next: Verify the identified issue using council records or ask the local planning authority for confirmation.
Outside scope
The project or property needs an assessment that the free checker does not provide.
Next: Contact the local planning authority or a suitably qualified planning professional.
Before you act
Is the check free?
Yes. The planning check is free and does not require registration.
Does the result replace council confirmation?
No. Planning rules depend on the facts of the property and can be affected by local designations and policies. Verify the relevant records with your local planning authority.
When should I get professional advice?
Consider advice from a qualified planning professional when a result is uncertain, a project is complex, or you are about to commit significant money to a purchase, design or construction work.