Homebuilding & Renovating

OTHER TERMS

Use Classes In the UK planning system, a Use Class categorise­s the function of a building or land. They help determine what type of planning permission you might need for a developmen­t project. Change of use This describes altering a building’s function from one Use Class (e.g. residentia­l) to another (e.g. of ce). Permitted Developmen­t (PD) rights

These are certain minor works allowed without a planning applicatio­n. Speci c limitation­s and regulation­s govern permitted developmen­t, as detailed in legislatio­n.

Dwellingho­use The law de nes a dwellingho­use as ‘a building for use as a dwelling, and includes any yard, garden, outhouse and other appurtenan­ces belonging to it and occupied or enjoyed with it’.

Curtilage The land surroundin­g a building that’s considered part of the property. While not explicitly de ned in legislatio­n, case law and planning guidance have establishe­d how it can be assessed and its importance in planning considerat­ions.

Custom/self-build The Self-build and Custom Housebuild­ing Act 2015 de nes self-build as ‘a person who intends to construct a new dwelling, or to convert a building into a dwelling, for his own occupation’. Community Infrastruc­ture

Levy (CIL) This is a levy charged by some councils under the Community Infrastruc­ture Levy Act 2010 to help fund local infrastruc­ture projects. Soon every area will be required to levy a CIL.

Principal elevation The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) doesn’t provide a speci c de nition, but it generally refers to the main façade of a building, usually the one facing the street. But for some buildings, de ning it can be complicate­d, and a knowledge of case law will be required.

Constraint­s These are limitation­s or restrictio­ns that can affect your developmen­t. They are not explicitly de ned in planning legislatio­n but can be identi ed through various sources, including site surveys, environmen­tal assessment­s and consultati­ons with relevant authoritie­s. A planning consultant should be able to help identify any for your site.

Conservati­on area De ned in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservati­on Areas) Act 1990, a conservati­on area is ‘an area of special architectu­ral or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance’.

Curtilage listed This refers to any building that was within the curtilage of a listed building at the point of listing. A curtilage listed building faces exactly the same restrictio­ns as a normal listed building, i.e. any relevant changes, either inside or out, cannot be undertaken without listed building consent. Unlike normal planning breaches, unauthoris­ed changes to listed buildings, including curtilage listed buildings and anything in their grounds, is a criminal offence, punishable by prison and/or an unlimited ne.

National Landscapes Formally called Areas of Outstandin­g Natural Beauty (AONB), these are landscapes recognised for their exceptiona­l scenic quality.