What is Planning Permission?

From 1st October 2008 there are important changes to the rules allowing you to alter or extend your house. Please view the Planning Portal Interactive House for more information.

What we do

The way that new buildings and the use of land is controlled is through the planning application process.  The overall purpose is to ensure that when a planning application is granted or refused, the decision is taken in the public interest so that new buildings and uses of land are of the right kind in the right place.

Development Control is about maintaining a balance between the need for new development such as housing, employment, leisure and shopping facilities with the need to protect both the natural and built environment and quality of life within the Chester District.  At an individual level, it can be about balancing your need to extend your house against the impact that an extension may have on your neighbour's property.

The planning application process allows this balance to be struck because in determining an application, the Council has to have regard to its own planning policies as well as those of central government and take into account other material considerations.  These are usually any views expressed by parish councils, amenity groups, neighbours or any statutory responses from highways or drainage agencies.  In all cases we have to deal with each application on its merits.

How a building is constructed is not controlled by Development Control; there is a separate system of Building Regulations for this.   The Building Consultancy Team deals with this, and you can read their web pages on this site and/or contact them direct on 01244 402224.

Planning Permission

Planning permission is the consent of the Council as Local Planning Authority to carry out development of land or buildings.

For most types of development requiring planning permission, the Council is the Local Planning Authority for Chester District.   This is a statutory function which the Council carries out having regard to central government legislation, currently the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.   This legislation sets out the framework for planning decisions and the Development Control Service co-ordinates this process.

One of the Council's major planning responsibilities is that of controlling development within the policies of the Government, Chester Local Plan and Supplementary Planning Document.

Most development requires planning permission from the Council before it can be carried out and applications for permission are considered by the Development Control Service.

Development that does not have the required permission may be subject to Planning Enforcement.

The definition of development is wide ranging and includes:

• changing the use of land and/or buildings
• construction or alteration of building
• most other construction and engineering works

In practice not all development requires a planning application to be made but most development does require approval. If you have any doubt as to whether permission is needed, please contact the Development Control Service to enquire.

Issues such as mineral extraction, waste disposal and land fill are classed as "County Matters" and planning applications for this are dealt with by Cheshire County Council (external link) as the County Planning Authority.

What is the difference between Planning Permission and Building Regulation Approval?

Planning permission is normally primarily concerned with matters of site layout, external design and the effect that the development will have on the general environment and neighbouring properties. Planning also deal with listed buildings, conservation areas and tree preservation orders.

Building Regulations are concerned with the actual construction process for both internal and external alterations, which involves regular site inspections whilst the works are in progress. This includes checking the structural stability, fire precautions and means of escape, weather resistance, energy conservation, sound insulation, access and facilities for disabled people etc.

Some, though not all types of works may require both approvals, and some may need one or the other. Both sections work completely independent of each other.

Contact Details

Planning - Development Control

Email - planning@chester.gov.uk

Opening hours - 8.30am - 4.45pm

Phone number - 01244 402404

Fax - 01244 320946

Address - Development Control, Development Directorate, Chester City Council, The Forum, Chester, CH1 2HS