Planning Help

This page has been structured on a task and topic basis to help navigate the Planning and Building Control pages. If your question is not answered here, please contact the relevant section directly.

• General Enquiries
• Planning Policies and Guidance
• Planning Permission
• Enforcement
• Building Regulations Approval
• Spatial and Long-Term Planning in Dacorum
• Land Charges
• Conservation and Design

General

What do you want to do?

• Find out what planning does and how it works
• Find out what Development Control does
• Find out what Development Plans does 
• Find out what Building Control does

FAQ:

• What is the difference between Planning and Building Control?
• What is the planning process?
• What is the Building Control process?.

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Planning policies and guidance

What do you want to do?

• Look at the Adopted Local Plan policies
• Look at the interactive Adopted Local Plan map
• Check what planning guidance there is
• See if a site is covered by a development or design brief 

FAQ:

• Is there any guidance on flooding and flood plains?
• Am I in a floodplain?
• Is there any guidance on sustainable water management and drainage?
•  What should I include in a Design and Access Statement? (PDF 76 KB, opens in new window)
•  What should I include in a Sustainability Statement? (PDF 89.5 KB, opens in new window).

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Planning permission

What do you want to do?

• Arrange a pre-application planning meeting
• Submit a planning application or application for other kind of consent
• Apply for advert consent
• View fees
• View relevant planning guidance
• Go to the Planning Obligations Guidance - Toolkit for Hertfordshire
• Comment on a planning application
• Search for a planning application
• View the weekly list of applications
• Know if an application is going to the Development Control Committee
• Speak at the Development Control Committee
• Lodge an appeal against my refused application
• Find out the decision on an application

FAQ:

• What is the difference between Planning and Building Control?
• What is meant by Development?
• What is permitted development?
• Do I need planning permission?
• Do I need permission for a conservatory or extension?
• Do I need permission for a gate, fence or wall or changes to it?
• Do I need permission to pave over my front garden?
• Do I need permission for a shed or other outbuilding?
• Do I need permission for a satellite dish or TV aerial?
• Do I need permission for a rooflight/"velux" window?
• Do I need permission for a porch?
• Do I need permission for exterior painting or cladding?
• Do I need permission to convert my garage to living accommodation?
• Do I need permission for a solar panel?
• Do I need permission for a dropped kerb/access?
• Do I need consent to display an advertisement?
• Will I get planning permission?
• How do I submit a planning application?
• What form should I use?
• How much will an application cost?
• Can I draw the plans myself?
• Can the Council recommend an architect or builder?
• Do I have to provide affordable housing?
• Will I need to sign a section 106 agreement?
• How long will it take to determine my application?
• How can I find out the progress of an application?
• Who gets notified about my application?
• Why isn't a site notice posted?
• Can I submit amended plans whilst my application is in the process of determination by the Council?
• Who decides applications?
• Can I speak at the Development Control Committee? 
• How long does the permission last?
• How can I appeal against the decision on my application?
• How can I appeal against the decision on my neighbour's application?
• How can I find out what the decision was on an application?
• When can I start work?
• Are changes requested by the Building Inspector automatically approved for the purposes of planning?
• Can I amend the plans once permission has been granted?
• When do I have to submit details to discharge conditions?
• Can I start building work before conditions have been discharged?
• What happens if I build the development wrong and it varies from the approved plans? 
• Can I receive a letter confirming that all conditions have been complied with?
• Are there any penalties for contravening planning?
• How do I complain if I am not happy with the service I have received?.

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Enforcement

What do you want to do?

• Report an unauthorised development/use or breach of condition/planning approval

FAQ:

• How can I report an unauthorised development or breach of planning?
• Will my details be made public?
• How long will it take to sort out?
• Why is it taking so long to take action?
• Why must complaints be made in writing or via the website?
• Are there any penalties for not complying with an enforcement notice?.

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Building regulations approval

What do you want to do?

• Speak to a Building Control Officer
• Make an on-line Building Regulations application
• Apply for Building Regulations approval off-line
• Get an energy calculation/SAP rating done for my extension/new dwelling
• Arrange for a Building Control Officer to Inspect my building works

FAQ:

• What do the Building Regulations cover?
• Do I need building regulations approval?
• Do I need approval to demolish a building?
• Can I get retrospective approval to works already done?
• Do I need approval to replace my windows and doors?
• The Planning Officer is objecting to the use of double glazing - will Building Control accept this?
• Which form should I use?
• What do I need to submit for a Full Plans application?
• What do I need to submit for a Building Notice application?
• How long will it take to determine my application?
• What is the Party Wall Act?
• What if I don't notify neighbours about building work I intend to carry out?
• How can I ensure electrical work undertaken will be up to standard?
• How can I choose a good builder?
• Go to the Building Control FAQ section for more answers.

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Spatial and long term planning in Dacorum

What do you want to do?

• See what Local Plan policies apply
• Look at the Local Plan Proposals Map
• Look at the Local Development Framework
• Comment on a draft document/plan/appraisal of Local Plan review (opens in new window) 

FAQ:

• What is the Development Plan?
• What are the adopted Local Plan documents?
• What is meant by saved policies?
• What are the saved policies?
• What happened to the Herts County Structure Plan?
• Are any of the Herts County Structure Plan policies saved?
• What is the Local Development Framework?
• When is the next review of the Local Plan?
• What are the new Development Plan documents?
• What progress has been made on housing completions in the Borough?
• What is the East of England Plan?
• How many houses are planned in the East of England from 2006-2021? .
• How many houses are planned in the Borough from 2006-2021? .
• How do I object to a proposal in the review of the Local Plan? (opens in new window)
• How do I put forward a proposal to be included in the review of the Local Plan? (opens in new window).

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Land Charges

What do you want to do?

• Make a land charges search on a property I'm buying

FAQ:

• Why should I have an official search done?
• What's included in a search?
• How long will a search take?
• How much will it cost?
• Will the search reveal any outstanding planning enforcement against the property?.

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Conservation and design

What do you want to do?

• Check if a property is listed
• Check if a property is in a conservation area
• Check the Buildings at Risk Register
• Apply for grant aid
• Apply for listed building consent
• Report a building at risk
• Check if a tree is in a conservation area
• Apply to give 6 weeks notice of tree works in a conservation area.

FAQ:

• What are the effects of listing?
• What are the criteria for listing?
• What policies apply to listed buildings?
• Can I do work to a listed building?
• What works require listed building consent?
• Can I do emergency work to a listed building without consent?
• Can I get a building delisted?
• What is a Building at Risk?
• Do I need consent to lop or remove a tree in a conservation area?.

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