Planning permission looms over most home renovations or building projects like a dark cloud. No matter what you might be doing, there is always the question, “Do I need planning permission for this?” One particular area where this is often unclear is bathroom renovations.
As a team of professionals who regularly renovate bathrooms, we’re frequently asked, “Do I need planning permission for a bathroom renovation?”
In most cases, the answer is no. However, there are a few occasions where you might need it.
At DMA Property Solutions, we’re experts in plumbing, electrics, heating, design and installation, meaning we provide a full range of services needed for bespoke, quality bathroom installations. Our experience makes us highly knowledgeable in planning permission requirements for bathroom renovations.
In this blog, we explain when you do and don’t need planning permission for a bathroom renovation and how you can check.
As said above, in most cases, you don’t need planning permission for a standard bathroom renovation.
This includes:
Cosmetic changes, minor plumbing adjustments and non-structural modifications don’t usually need planning permission from your local authority. This is because they fall under your Permitted Development Rights, which every homeowner has.
It is also worth noting here that you don’t tend to need planning permission to knock down an internal wall to expand your bathroom either. So, if you're thinking about knocking the wall down between a separate toilet and bathroom to create one large space, go ahead.
Don’t forget, just because you might not need planning permission, doesn’t mean you should ignore Building Regulations. All work undertaken on your home will need to meet UK Building Regulations to ensure it is safe, efficient and compliant – your bathroom is no exception.
There are three typical occasions when you are likely to need planning permission when renovating your bathroom.
Listed buildings are protected because of their heritage. So, if your home is a listed building, no matter what grade, you're likely going to need to get planning permission for any bathroom renovations. As well as planning permission, you might also need to get Listed Building Consent for the work you intend to do.
Alternatively, if you're in a conservation area, you will need planning permission too. As a conservation area is put in place to “conserve the character or appearance of those parts of the built environment which are of special historic or architectural interest,” any changes will need to be made in line with the architectural style of the location. Hence, planning permission is needed.
In both these circumstances, planning permission should be sought for:
The second occasion you are likely to need planning permission for your bathroom renovation is if you are making major layout changes.
So, if you are planning to do the following, you will need to reach out to your local authority and obtain planning permission.
Adding an extension to your property to expand the bathroom will also require planning permission.
Whether you already have a garage or loft conversion or any form of outbuilding or you're planning on starting the work to create one, you may need planning permission to include a bathroom in the space.
This usually depends on factors such as:
We recommend you check with your local authority before starting any work or the application process.
If you aren’t too sure whether you need planning permission for your bathroom renovation, there are a few ways you can check.
Hopefully, by now you're clearer on whether your bathroom renovation needs planning permission.
If you're making minor changes that are cosmetic or small plumbing adjustments, you shouldn’t need to worry about it.
However, if you're making larger structural changes, live in a conservation area or listed building or are adding a bathroom to a conversion or outbuilding, you are likely to need it.
Don’t forget, with or without planning permission, you still need to meet all relevant UK Building Regulations.
The team at DMA Property Solutions are highly skilled professionals with over 15 years of experience. We've been helping homeowners across Dorset, Wiltshire, and Hampshire renovate and refurbish their bathrooms, so know the ins and outs of planning permission like the back of our hand.
Using our experience and expertise, we'll be able to guide you through your project and any planning applications needed, making it a smooth and stress-free process.
If you are interested in starting a bathroom renovation but are holding back because of planning permission uncertainties, don’t hesitate to reach out to our friendly team today. Call us on 01202 090010 or complete our online contact form to request a callback.
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