The construction industry is regulated by strict procedures in order to ensure the safety of workers and the security of a final building project, and this means that cutting corners in order to reduce one’s workload can have serious repercussions. In almost every situation, it is essential that project managers obtain planning permission from the relevant authorities before any work can begin. Read on as we analyse the importance of planning permission in construction…
What is planning permission?
In layman’s terms, planning permission is the term given to the approval that is required in order for construction, expansion, significant renovation or demolition to go ahead. It is a legal requirement as per the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 which states that planning permission is required in order for development of land to take place, and these developments are classified as ‘engineering, mining or other operations in, on, over or under the lands or the making of material changes’. Since this definition is rather ambiguous, it vital that planning permission is obtained prior to the commencement of construction in order to avoid breaching the guidelines as this puts a project at risk of legal enforcement from the local planning authority.
How long does it take to obtain planning permission?
There are several steps involved in the process of obtaining planning permission, and it is wise to converse with the local planning authority in advance in order to gauge their reaction to a proposed development. In the majority of cases, planning permission takes 8 weeks to compete, however there are complex situations where the authority may take much longer to come to a decision. With this said, they are often courteous in their ability to provide an estimated timetable and will typically obtain written permission to extend the process prior to doing so.
It is dangerous to build without planning permission?
Planning permission takes several different factors into consideration in order to assess the suitability of a proposed build, and examples of these components include the potential loss of privacy, any concerns regarding traffic and parking, the impact that a build may have on nature and the natural environment, and the design and appearance of the structure itself. Choosing to build without planning permission is known as a breach, and may be dangerous if a building is constructed on unsuitable soil that leaves it susceptible to subsidence. In these circumstances, the local authority may intervene and enforce a notice to remove the structure should they decide that the breach unacceptably affects public amenity and safety.
Here at Millgrove Construction, we take great pride in our project management expertise which allows us to effectively guide our clients through each step of their project from commencement to completion. After all, there is a lot more to construction than what meets the eye and a great deal of work is carried out behind the scenes. Our team take care of all the nitty gritty details, such as securing planning permission, so that our clients can rest assured that their project is in safe and experienced hands. For all your civil engineering contractor needs, get in contact with a member of the Millgrove Construction team today.
