Project Management & Contract Administration

Most proposed building work is subject to compliance with planning policy, however whether you must formally apply for planning consent is dependent on the nature of the work you intend to undertake and the type of property you own.

More minor extensions and alterations may be undertaken without the need to formally apply for planning consent if they meet Permitted Development criteria.

Andrews Eades will be able to advise you whether your project meets Permitted Development criteria, and if not, which type of planning application is required to apply for consent.

Permitted Development rights are a national grant of planning consent which allow certain building works and changes of use to be carried out without having to make a planning application. Permitted Development rights are subject to conditions and limitations to control impacts and to protect local amenity.

Whilst Permitted Development removes the requirement to apply for formal planning consent Andrews Eades would still recommend that you apply for a Certificate of Lawful Development from the Local Authority, as this would confirm that your proposed works are legal in planning terms.

Planning consent is the permission to carry out development works, therefore planning drawings tend to focus on the layout, size, and appearance of the building.

Building Regulations consent seeks to confirm that your development works meet the minimum technical standards as defined in the Approved Documents. Therefore, Building Regulations drawings are more detailed and tend to focus on structural stability, energy efficiency, and the wellbeing of its occupiers and users.

No, it is not a statutory requirement to have a contract for a building project. However, we recommend that a contract is put in place for larger or complex projects as it binds both client and contractor to a clear framework for how the project is run and provides mechanisms for resolving disputes.