Planning

What is planning permission?

Planning Permission, in simple terms, is asking if you can do a certain piece of building work. It will be granted (possibly subject to certain conditions) or refused.

Parliament has given the main responsibility for planning to local planning authorities typically the planning department of your local council.

Is planning needed for a place of worship?

Planning permission is required for the erection of any building including buildings for public worship or religious instruction such as a church, mosque, temple, gurdwara, synagogue, Sunday school or madrassa.

It is also required for a change of use of an existing building for the purpose of public worship or religious instruction unless the building already falls within Class D1 (Non-Residential Institutions for example public hall, school, library, etc.).

Planning permission is generally also required for any external alterations to an existing building. Works for partial or total demolition of an unlisted building in a designated conservation area will require conservation area consent.

If the building is statutorily listed (i.e. of architectural and/or historic interest), listed building consent would be required for both internal and external alterations as required.

Billwett

How we can help...

At Billwett we can help with every stage of the planning process from applications to appeals. Below is a list of information which could be considered relevant to enable proper and comprehensive planning assessment of planning applications for places of worship.

• Clarify the type and frequency of use e.g. church, chapel, temple, mosque, etc. and special days in the calendar
• The size of the congregation and catchment area
• Activities involved and the frequency e.g. music, singing/clapping, public address system, night vigil, midnight worship
• Associated and ancillary uses involved e.g. day centre, nursery, youth centre, etc
• Existing uses/similar facilities in the immediate area