What is a Non-Material Variation
A non-material variation (NMV) is a minor change to a development that already has planning permission.
You can ask us to consider a change as a non-material variation if it does not significantly alter the development that was approved.
Before you apply
You can only apply if:
- planning permission has been granted
- the permission is still valid and has not expired.
A non-material variation forms part of the original planning permission. It is not a new planning consent.
What cannot be treated as a Non-Material Variation
A non-material variation cannot:
- introduce development that would need planning permission in its own right
- remove or change a planning condition
- involve a material change of use
If you need to change or remove a planning condition, you must apply under Section 42.
How we assess requests
We assess each request individually, taking account of:
- the scale of the proposed change compared to the approved development
- the nature and character of the surrounding area
- whether the change would alter the planning permission that was granted
For larger housing developments changes such as
- additional plots
- alternative house types or designs
- significant road layout alterations
- moving a house by more than 3 metres
- removing or significantly relocating open space, landscaping or above-ground infrastructure
are unlikely to be considered non-material.
We do not carry out neighbour notification for non-material variations as they do not raise new material planning issues.
If we decide the change is material, you will need to submit a new planning application.
Permissions that are not eligible
- listed building consent
- conservation area consent
- advertisement consent
- prior notification applications
You should also check proposed changes with Building Standards to ensure they comply with building regulations.