What is permitted development?

The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (GPDO) established most permitted development rights.

It is a very detailed document, covering a wide range and types of development, including householder works, minor operations, changes of use, temporary uses etc. The majority of these are subject to conditions and limitations.

The conditions and limitations, together with the interpretation of each class, should be read carefully before deciding if a development has the benefit of planning permission granted under each class.

The conditions and limitations can be the subject of enforcement action in that they are attached to a grant of planning permission, albeit planning permission granted by the GPDO.

For signage (also known as adverts), you can read the Department for Communities and Local Government's 'Outdoor advertisements and signs: a guide for advertisers’.

For changes of use, the legislation is Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 and puts land and buildings into categories known as ‘Use Classes’. A change of use can occur within the same ‘use class’ without needing planning permission.

More advice is available on the planning portal.