Planning permission may be needed before you erect a new building or structure, or if you want to make alterations to an existing structure. You may need planning permission if you change the way a building or land is used, or to carry out an engineering operation. General advice for common projects for businesses and householders can be found on the planning portal website (external website**).
To help you find out if you need planning permission to carry out alterations to a domestic property, we offer a Householder Request Service. To access this service, please complete and return the Householder Planning Enquiry Form below. The Council will then assess the information you provide and advise you accordingly. Please note that this service attracts a charge of £52.
If you are a business and wish to find out if you need planning permission to carry out external or internal alterations to the property, or if you wish to find out if you need a change of use application for the use of the business or advertisement consent, please complete the following online planning enquiry form.
Information regarding pre-application advice and assistance from the department can be found here.
If you live in a house, you can make certain types of minor changes to your home without needing to apply for planning permission. These rights are called “permitted development rights”. The Planning Portal has updated its Interactive House Guide (external website**), so anybody wanting information about the rules relating to household permitted development rights can find out here (external website**) or click on the picture on the right.
Please note: you will need to install Flash Player to view this - download the free Adobe Flash Player here (external website**).
In some areas of the High Peak, these are restricted. These include Conservation Areas, where you may need to apply for planning permission for certain types of work, which do not need an application in other areas. Listed Buildings have also different requirements.
The Council may have also removed some of your permitted development rights by issuing an Article 4 direction, or by conditions relating to previous applications granted for your property or existing structures. This means you may have to submit a planning application, when you normally may not need one. To find out if your property has restricted or removed permitted development rights, please contact the Development Control Team on 0845 129 77 77 or 01298 28400, or submit the online contact form.
There are certain categories of signs and advertisements that have deemed consent, which means that an application may not be required to be submitted to us. Guidance is available from the Government by downloading the booklet Outdoor Advertisements and Signs: A Guide for Advertisers (1.2MB) 
, additional guidance can be found here (external website**), or alternatively you can contact us.
Information and further guidance on planning permission and the planning system is also available through the Planning Portal, please click the following links:
**Please note: High Peak Borough Council is not responsible for the content of any external websites.