External wall insulation and planning

tfspark

I wonder if anyone who has had external wall insulation fitted could give me any advice regarding their local planning authority?

We live in a 1929 solid brick, three bedroom semi. No cavity. We are in the process of obtaining quotes. It has been mentioned that I should contact our local planning department to determine how to proceed.

I'm not sure if we need planning permission, or if it's permitted development. I believe it is seen as an improvement rather than an enlargement? I have done a lot of internet searching so have read all about change of appearance etc etc.

I phoned my local council but could only speak to customer services. They suggest I email the planning department, which I did. The reply was very generic. Follow these links. Most of which I had seen already.

If anyone has been through all of this I would appreciate your experiences. Did you require planning permission and if so why? Was it regarded as permitted development, so informed no one. Or did you apply for a Certificate of Lawfulness of Proposed Development? (which I believe is the same cost as a full planning application. £580ish? )

All a bit confusing at the moment!!

MikeJXE

Here is a link to my local council portal regarding external insulation 

https://www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council/policies-plans-and-strategies/energy-efficiency/advice-on-external-wall-insulation/planning-permission-for-external-wall-insulation/

FreeBear

tfspark said:

I wonder if anyone who has had external wall insulation fitted could give me any advice regarding their local planning authority?

We live in a 1929 solid brick, three bedroom semi. No cavity. We are in the process of obtaining quotes. It has been mentioned that I should contact our local planning department to determine how to proceed.

I'm not sure if we need planning permission, or if it's permitted development. I believe it is seen as an improvement rather than an enlargement? I have done a lot of internet searching so have read all about change of appearance etc etc.

Whilst EWI doesn't enlarge the property, it is a material change that affects the appearance, so planning permission is usually required (especially in a conservation area). If this is a listed building, you'd also need Listed Building Consent from the local conservation officer.

With a solid brick wall, you need to be very careful about the choice of materials used. Wood fibre or cork finished with a lime render would be preferable. You don't want to use materials that trap moisture within the walls.

squirrelpie

FreeBear said:

Whilst EWI doesn't enlarge the property, it is a material change that affects the appearance

Except when it doesn't, of course. A rendered finish can easily be reproduced, and brick finishes can be reproduced using brick slips. So it's better to say that if it significantly affects the appearance then planning permission will be required. There's lots of stuff online about various approaches and councils' attitude to them.

tfspark

Thanks to all who took the time to respond.

I recently found out that a neighbour, who had ewi installed about twelve years ago, successfully applied for a certificate of lawfulness. Unfortunately they have moved on so I can't ask them how they achieved it, although it was classed as permitted development. I guess that's the route I'll go down.

squirrelpie

AFAIK a Certificate of Lawfulness is half the cost of a planning application.

wrf12345

Think the timing has changed, thanks to Mrs May the council now have ten years to catch up and fine you if you break planning or building control, it was four years before but is not retrospective (so if you did it before 2024 then it is still four years), think that is what certificate of lawfulness applies to. Not sure if it is 2024, might be a bit earlier.