Please note that any advice on a Planning Proposal is given without prejudice to the future consideration of and decision on any application received by The Highland Council.
Making a Planning Application
- ePlanning - complete and submit your planning application online, view, track and comment upon applications or create your own customised weekly list
- Planning application forms and guidance - if you prefer to submit a paper copy application
Viewing Planning Applications
Pre-application advice
For Small Scale (Local Developments)
- More details on the pre-application advice service for local developments can be found on the Pre-Application Advice webpage.
For Major or National Developments
- New regulations mean that applicants intending to submit a major or national application must carry out a community consultation exercise before a formal planning application is made. Further information on this can be found on the Pre-application advice webpage.
For Small Business Development
- Pre-application advice for small business development can be found here.
What is Permitted Development?
Householder Permitted Development Rights are granted to allow private householders to carry out certain small-scale developments to their houses and gardens and, in limited circumstances, to flats without having to apply for planning permission. These rights only apply to domestic properties and not to commercial or industrial premises.
The rules governing whether a development is ‘permitted’ or not are changing as a result of new Scotland-wide regulations which come into force on 6th February 2012.
These changes have been introduced by the Scottish Government and are intended to make it easier for people to make alterations to their homes by reducing the number of situations where an application for planning permission is required.
Some of the key changes are outlined below, although please be aware that if your house is in a Conservation Area the new rights do not apply and you will need to apply for planning permission.
If your property is a listed building or the development proposed is within the curtilage of a listed building, different regulations apply and you should contact your local planning office to discuss.
Key changes:
• The new rules aim to provide more generous permitted development rights for rear extensions and free-standing buildings;
• A new concept of ‘principal elevation’is used to judge when planning permission is needed. Development in front of the principal elevation always needs planning permission;
• There are separate rules for decking, porches and access ramps;
• A 1 metre'bubble' allows alterations such as solar panels and satellite dishes to be added without permission, provided it is not in a conservation area;
• For the first time, the new rules allow for limited alterations to a roof of a house
• There are limited permitted development rights for flatted properties
Where can I find out more information?
The legislation is available to view here. Guidance has also been produced by the Scottish Government in the form of a Circular and is available to view here (PDF 2843). To find out if your proposal is permitted development, you should read our Advice page and complete a Householder Enquiry Form using the links below. Alternatively, if you think your proposed development is ‘permitted development’ you may apply for a Certificate of Lawfulness to ensure that the development is lawful. For more information on this see our Advice page.
Is the advice I’ve previously been given still valid?
If you have previously received advice from us to say that a particular householder development would or would not require planning permission, but you will not have started the work by 6 February or it will not be completed by 31 August 2012, you should check again with the Planning Service to make sure that that your development is still permitted under the new regulations. If your development will not be started and completed by those dates it will be covered by the new regulations and previous advice may no longer be valid.
Planning Appeals
Planning Inquiries
Planning Enforcement
Contacts and Office Locations
Feedback
We would appreciate feedback on the services we provide. Please take a moment to complete our online survey at the link below:
Online Survey