If your home is a flat you will need to apply for planning permission. If you live in a house and occupy all of it, you will need to apply for planning permission if the porch is:

• higher than three metres above ground level
• has a ground area of more than three square metres
• is less than two metres from a road

You may need to apply for planning permission if your home is covered by an Article 4 Direction. If your house is a listed building you will need listed building consent. Advice on conservation areas, listed buildings and article 4 Directions is listed and you may wish to visit www.planningportal.gov.uk to find out more information with regard to the size of porches that can be built and when planning permission is required.

If you believe that planning permission is not required for your proposal the Council would strongly recommend you submit an application for a certificate of lawfulness. This would mean the Planning Service would be able to issue you with a certificate, to hopefully confirm that planning permission is not required.

If you think that planning permission is not required you can make an application for a lawful development certificate. Applications may relate to

• existing or proposed uses of a building
• building works you are about to carry out
• building works that have already been carried out

It is your responsibility to supply the Planning Services with all of the supporting information to show that permission is not required. The Planning Service can agree or refuse an application for a lawful development certificate. If you disagree with the decision you have the right of appeal. More information on certificates of lawfulness can be found by using this link www.planningportal.gov.uk There is a fee that you will need to submit with your application, details of which are on the Planning Service web site and are included in the application packs that you can also view and download.

To submit a planning application, you need to send us the following:

• The completed planning application form, which must be signed and dated together with a signed and dated certificate of land ownership.
• The correct application fee.
• A site location plan, usually an Ordnance Survey extract with the site boundary outlined in red and any adjoining land under the control of the applicant outlined in blue. Additionally drawings showing plans and elevations of the proposed development the site layout and any other supporting information that you wish the Council to consider should also be submitted with your application.

It is helpful if a minimum of four copies of all forms and four copies of any drawings you wish the Council to consider be submitted with your application.

Failure to submit any of the above will result in your application being returned to you. Further advice on the sort of information that is required you should refer to the application checklist on the planning service web site.

You can write to the Planning Department enclosing a cheque (currently £16.87 for one notice, multiple notices are at a higher rate) or you can visit us at the Town Hall and a copy will be made available to you while you wait. If you require a large number of documents, some notice may be required (ideally 3 days) and additional charges will be incurred.

The weekly list of planning applications is available online and is updated each week.

At the Town Hall counter the receptionist or duty planner can help you locate particular planning applications and assist if you have difficulty understanding the plans or drawings.

Applications are assessed primarily against the Unitary Development Plan (or UDP for short) for the London Borough of Redbridge and the London Plan, London's strategic planning document produced by the Greater London Council (GLA). These documents set out policies that guide decisions on most planning applications. In some cases government policy or other documents also play a role. The Council's Unitary Development Plan is on this website. More information on the GLA and the London Plan can be found using this link www.london.gov.uk Your planning application is a public document and any objections or comments made by neighbours or other members of the public are also considered. A planning officer will make an inspection of the site and the immediate area before making a final recommendation on your application.

Yes, any member of the public may object. However, one or more objections do not necessarily mean that your application will be refused, unless Council considers that the objections have good planning grounds. It's usually a good idea to have a word with your neighbours before you lodge your planning application. This can head off later objections based on misunderstandings, or lead to a modification in your proposal, which takes account of your neighbours' concerns.

If your home is a flat you will need to apply for planning permission. If your home is a single family dwelling, which may be terraced, detached, semi-detached or a bungalow, you may require planning permission depending on whether or not your house has been extended before, where the proposed extension or conservatory is to be located, its size, the location of any outbuildings or garages, the height of the proposed extension, is the extension near to a highway, together with a number of other criteria. Advice on whether or not planning permission is required can be found using this link www.planningportal.gov.uk NB The original house is a house as it was originally built or as it existed on 1 July 1948 whichever is the later date not as the house was when you bought it or moved in. The term highway includes all roads, footpaths, bridleways and byways if they a public rights of way. Your home may also be in a conservation area or covered by an Article 4 Direction, which may limit the size of extension that you can build (see guidance on conservation areas and Article 4 Directions) or it may have been built under a planning permission which limits by condition your right to extend your property further. If you believe that planning permission is not required for your proposal the Council would strongly recommend you submit an application for a certificate of lawfulness. This would mean the Planning Service would be able to issue you with a certificate, to hopefully confirm whether planning permission is, or is not, required.

If these are mounted externally on a building they may require planning permission. This will depend on their size, exact location and visibility. If they do need planning permission the principle issue is likely to be whether they are visibly intrusive and/or whether they cause noise levels that are harmful to nearby occupiers.

If you believe that planning permission is not required for your proposal the Council would strongly recommend you submit an application for a certificate of lawfulness. This would mean the Planning Service would be able to issue you with a certificate, to hopefully confirm that planning permission is not required.

A TV aerial does not normally require planning permission if it is of 'normal size' and not placed on the frontage. If the building is a in a Conservation Area or a Listed Building consent may well be needed. You may also wish to use this link to find out more information on satellite dishes and whether planning permission is required www.planningportal.gov.uk If you believe that planning permission is not required for your proposal the Council would strongly recommend you submit an application for a certificate of lawfulness. This would mean the Planning Service would be able to issue you with a certificate, to hopefully confirm that planning permission is not required.

Satellite dishes are usually regarded as permitted development and can be put up without the need for planning permission. There are however, certain exceptions. You may need to apply for planning permission if your home is covered by an Article 4 Direction or in a conservation area. If your house is a listed building you will probably need listed building consent. Advice on conservation areas, listed buildings and article 4 directions is available on the planning web site. You may also wish to use this link to find out more information on satellite dishes and whether planning permission is required www.planningportal.gov.uk

If you believe that planning permission is not required for your proposal the Council would strongly recommend you submit an application for a certificate of lawfulness. This would mean the Planning Service would be able to issue you with a certificate, to hopefully confirm that planning permission is not required.

If there is a condition imposed on the original planning permission for your property preventing the conversion of a garage into a habitable room then planning permission is required.

If your property falls in an area where Permitted Development Rights have been removed or restricted, planning permission may be required. Your solicitor should have advised you if this is the case if you have recently moved.

Building regulation approval will be required in most cases.

You may need to apply for planning permission if your home is covered by an Article 4 Direction. If your house is a listed building you will probably need planning permission and listed building consent. Advice on conservation areas, listed buildings and article 4 directions is available elsewhere on this planning web site. You may also wish to use this link to find out more information with regard to the size of garages that can be built and when planning permission is required www.planningportal.gov.uk If you believe that planning permission is not required for your proposal the Council would strongly recommend you submit an application for a certificate of lawfulness. This would mean the Planning Service would be able to issue you with a certificate, to hopefully confirm that planning permission is not required.

Unless you live in a "listed building" planning permission is generally not required for internal alteration, so long as those alterations are not creating a new dwelling or separate flat. You can also find more information on this issue by using this link www.planningportal.gov.uk

In many cases you will not need planning permission to create a hardstanding if your property is a house (not flats), a warehouse or an industrial building. There will be instances were permission is required, for example if your property is listed or covered by an Article 4 Direction. A hardstanding can include patios and, in some instances, decks or decking although in some cases decks attached to the property may be considered as extensions.

For more information you should use the following link www.planningportal.gov.uk. If you believe that planning permission is not required for your proposal the Council would strongly recommend you submit an application for a certificate of lawfulness. This would mean the Planning Service would be able to issue you with a certificate, to hopefully confirm that planning permission is not required.

When you will need to apply for planning permission. The following are common examples of when you will need to apply for planning permission.
You want to make additions or extensions to a flat or maisonette (including those converted from houses). (But you do not need planning permission to carry out internal alterations or work which does not affect the external appearance of the building).
You want to divide off part of your house for use as a separate home (for example, a self-contained flat or bed-sit) or use a building or caravan in your garden as a separate residence for someone else. (But you do not need planning permission to let one or two of your rooms to lodgers).
You want to build a separate house in your garden.
You want to divide off part of your home for business or commercial use (for example, a workshop) or you want to build a parking place for a commercial vehicle, (The Department's free booklet, Planning Permission: A Guide for Business, available from your council, gives advice about working from home and whether planning permission is likely to be required).
You want to build something which goes against the terms of the original planning permission for your house - for example, a planning condition may have been imposed to stop you putting up a fence in the front garden because the house is on an ''open plan'' estate. Your council has a record of all planning permissions in its area.
The work you want to do might obstruct the view of road users.
The work would involve a new or wider access to a trunk or classified road. The rest of this chapter gives further advice on when you will need to apply for planning permission. If this booklet does not cover what you wish to do, you should discuss your proposals with the planning department of your council.

Planning Permission is concerned with the way land is used and that any building constructed on the land looks acceptable. In doing this, planning considers the impact development may have on neighbours or the general environment. It also deals with matters involving listed buildings, conservation areas and advertising. Building Regulations are concerned with the way a building is constructed - its structural integrity, fire precautions, weather resistance, energy conservation, sound insulation, access for disabled people etc.

Some common examples of when you need planning permission are:

Changing the use of a building (e.g. from residential to business or from one type of business to another)

Converting your house into two or more flats

Making alterations to your flat

Building extensions to your house or constructing outbuildings (beyond certain sizes and heights)

Undertaking works that affect a public highway (e.g. construction or widening a vehicular access if your house fronts onto a main road).

The rules governing when planning permission is required can be complicated. If in doubt, contact Redbridge Planning Service or seek advice from an independent planning consultant. Alternatively more detailed information on checking whether or not planning permission is required can be found on the planning portal website at www.planningportal.gov.uk. This is a national website providing guidance on the planning system in general but also specific information on a range of issues including

Extending your house:

Permitted development - what is it and how might it apply to me?

How do I calculate permitted development?

Porches - can I put one up without requiring planning permission?

Around your house e.g. garden shed, areas of hard surfacing, patios and driveways, do they require planning permission?

Fences, Walls, gates, how high can they be?

Building and demolition - do I need planning permission?

Can I work from home?

Satellite dishes, TV and Radio Aerials, when can I put them up?

Internal Alterations

It also provides advice for businesses including:

Do I need planning permission to change my business use or extend my business premises?

What are the use classes?

Advice for development on farms.

You can obtain this information from the Council's Planning Service. However, you will need to give an accurate address for your property and allow time for staff to retrieve the information. If you require us to carry out further research on the information retrieved or require copies of any documents there is likely to be a charge for this service. If you are buying a property, your solicitor should obtain this information as part of the usual conveyance search.

The cubic content, or volume, is calculated by using the external dimensions of the building or structure. The following link provides access to a volume calculator www.planningportal.gov.uk

Having calculated the cubic content of your development and if you believe that planning permission is not required the Council would strongly recommend you submit an application for a certificate of lawfulness. This would mean the Planning Service would be able to issue you with a certificate, to confirm whether or not planning permission is required.

Listed buildlings list and information on listed buildings and conservation areas can be viewed on our website under Listed Building Guidance.

You should contact Redbridge Planning Services and state that you wish to make a planning enforcement complaint. A member of staff will take the details and pass the matter to a planning enforcement investigator. If it is not a planning matter that the Planning Service can investigate, your complaint will be forwarded to a relevant Council Service, which may be able to assist you further. The identity of people making complaints is kept strictly confidential.

Planning permission is not required to build or alter gates, fences and walls unless the structures are:

higher than one metre when adjoining a highway used by vehicular traffic

higher than two metres elsewhere

if your property is listed you will also need to apply for listed building consent

if your property is covered by an Article 4 Direction you may need planning permission

NB If you have hedges, shrubs or trees on your boundary walls, planning permission is not required for work on them (unless covered by Tree Preservation Order or a condition attached to a previous planning permission, or located in a conservation area).

Advice on wall fences and gates can be found using this link www.planningportal.gov.uk If you believe that planning permission is not required for your proposal the Council would strongly recommend you submit an application for a certificate of lawfulness. This would mean the Planning Service would be able to issue you with a certificate, to hopefully confirm that planning permission is not required.

Yes, but you should have a good knowledge of design and be able to present clear plans, elevations and sections in a 1:50 or 1:100 scale. In most cases employing an architect, building surveyor or other design professional will produce better results and reduce delays in processing your application.

You will not need planning permission for a new access or to alter an existing one provided all of the following apply:

your property is either a house (not flats), a warehouse or an industrial building

the vehicle access will not be to a trunk or classified road

the vehicle access is required in connection with a proposed development e.g. hardstanding or garage that does not require planning permission and would not cause an obstruction to the view of persons using the highway.

In all other instances, planning permission will be required. If your property is listed or covered by an Article 4 Direction you may need planning permission or listed building consent even if it complies with the above. Page 141 of the Council's Unitary Development Plan shows the classified roads in the Borough.

If the new or widened access crosses a pavement or verge and you require a dropped kerb you will need to contact the Highways Department on 020 8708 3946 or this link to the Helpdesk to arrange for the council to do the works at your expense. This is necessary even if you do not need planning permission.

You may also wish to use the following link www.planningportal.gov.uk, which will provide additional information on this subject.

If you believe that planning permission is not required for your proposal the Council would strongly recommend you submit an application for a certificate of lawfulness. This would mean the Planning Service would be able to issue you with a certificate, to hopefully confirm that planning permission is not required.

You should not start any building works before planning permission is granted or you have established that planning permission is not required by applying for a certificate of lawfulness. Even after planning permission has been granted many decisions come with conditions, which require you to take some further steps to ensure the development will be carried out in a proper manner. You must comply with any such conditions before starting your development. If you choose not to you may be in breach of planning control. Depending on the severity of the breach and the works undertaken, the Council could take enforcement action requiring you to stop. Any works you do without the necessary permissions will be undertaken at your own risk.

If you have the full address where the works are being undertaken we can quickly find out whether planning permissions exist. This will relate strictly to the address provided. This information can be obtained by telephone, or if you wish, you may visit our Planning Public Service Counter where staff will be happy to assist you.

You do not need planning permission for expanding your accommodation into the existing loft space provided it is only internal works. If the property is not a house you will need permission if you are raising the height of the roof, installing a dormer window or changing the shape of the roof, as these are considered extensions to the property. Certain roof alterations can be carried out to dwelling houses as "permitted development" and not require planning permission. If your home is covered by an Article 4 Direction, is a listed building or located in a conservation area separate rules apply. Advice on conservation areas, listed buildings and article 4 Directions is available on this planning web site. You may also wish to use the following link to find out more information with regard to the size of dormers that can be built and when planning permission is required www.planningportal.gov.uk If you believe that planning permission is not required for your proposal the Council would strongly recommend you submit an application for a certificate of lawfulness. This would mean the Planning Service would be able to issue you with a certificate, to hopefully confirm that planning permission is not required.