"Planning permission approved" on house we like - questions to ask

sarah_elton

My other half is eyeing up a house, and the agents say that planning permission for an extension has been approved.

Now, as it stands, the layout of the house isn't ideal (downstairs bathroom due to age of property), but if that permission is for a two storey extension we could fix that. However, it'd be a long-term thing as we wouldn't have the cash for it for a few years.

I've never been involved with anything requiring planning permission. Obviously we can ask what the permission is for exactly (size, height...). What else?

What is the process for planning permission? I guess the above could just mean the owners have had verbal agreement from a planning guy. If it's actually approved, is there a name for the piece of paper they should have?

If it's all above board, how safe is it to assume that permission granted now would be granted again in a few years?

I'd want to get full details without sounding like I have no clue. :rolleyes:

securityman

You have 5 years to start the build from when the plans where approved.
If you search on the local council's web site you should find the plans online.
I have found that if i type my name into google, the first one is my plans for my house.

Doozergirl

When you see the planning documents, then you will see from the approval notice how liong you have to build. You only need to make some kind of start like digging a trench for them to deem that you have started, but in many places you only have 3 years to start.