Do I need Planning Permission for....?

Permitted Development (PD) changes

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.

The DRAFT Guidance can be found on the Planning Portal website.

Do I need Planning Permission for a Conservatory?

The same rules apply to a conservatory as would to any form of extension to your home.

There are some allowances called 'permitted development', which can be used up before you need planning permission. In some exceptional cases, these allowances are removed to protect an area's character or amenity: it is always best to check with us before proceeding.

Please remember that you may need Building Regulations approval to erect a conservatory. Information about this is set out in the Building Consultancy service area of the website.

What if I live in a Conservation Area or Listed Building?

Some unlisted buildings of particular character within Conservation Areas may be considered worthy of further protection from unsympathetic alterations and development.

Certain individual properties will have their permitted development rights removed and planning permission in these cases will be required for any external alterations or extensions together with conservation area consent.

If your building is a listed building, you will need to apply for listed building consent to alter the building internally or externally, you will also need permission to alter a building within the grounds of a listed building.

To find out if you live in a conservation area please contact us at planning@chester.gov.uk. For more detailed conservation advice please talk to our conservation team on tel 01244 402395/402233 or email conservation@chester.gov.uk.

Is my house listed?

There are approximately 2,388 Listed Buildings and 61 Conservation Areas in the District. To find out if your property is listed please contact us at planning@chester.gov.uk.

The historic buildings of Chester District are a unique environmental asset. The rich variety of types, styles, functions and ages helps to form a distinctive identity for our towns and villages, as well as providing irreplaceable historic evidence. Important buildings and structures are "listed" in recognition of their architectural and historic merit, ensuring that this precious and finite resource is protected for the future.

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (external link) compiles and maintains the lists of buildings of special architectural and historic interest. It is possible for anyone to make suggestions to the Department of buildings which they consider should be added to the lists.

Can I get my tree protected?

The aims of Tree Preservation Orders are to prevent unnecessary felling and pruning and to ensure that, where felling is permitted, replacement trees are planted.

TPOs can cover a single tree, groups of trees or woodlands. They cannot preserve hedges, bushes or shrubs. Trees need not be exceptional or unusual specimens to merit inclusion in a TPO.

Anyone can ask for a TPO to be made. Visit our Tree pages for more information

Trees in conservation areas are also protected.

What happens if I have a problem with a high hedge on my neighbours' property

The Government brought in a new High Hedges Law into force in 2005.  It is part of the 2003 Anti-Social Behaviour Act.

An Owner or Occupier of a domestic property are able to ask their Council to take action against the Owner of a hedge that is over two metres in height on someone else's land which they feel harms the reasonable enjoyment of their home.

Do I need planning permission for a dropped kerb?

It is the formation of the access, and not the dropped kerb that needs planning permission. If the access is onto a classfied or trunk road, planning permission is required. Even if you don't need planning permission, you will need to discuss your proposals with Cheshire County Highways (external link).

Contact Details

Planning - Development Control Duty Officer

Email - planning@chester.gov.uk

Opening hours - 8.30am - 4.45pm

Phone number - 01244 324324

Fax - 01244 320946

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