Local authority planning issues

Planning permission is usually required for any change of use or alteration to existing primary care premises or construction of new premises.

Prior to acquiring land with existing buildings or for new buildings, you should check with your local authority that planning consent for the required use will be granted. Environmental impact assessments are increasingly becoming a requirement of the local authority planning approval process. In particular you will need to produce transport plans for any new development to ensure it is accessible to the public.

Primary care premises are subject to all normal and Town and Country Planning control. Planning permission is, therefore, usually required for any change of use or alteration to existing buildings or construction of new buildings.

Local authorities are responsible for producing development plans. These set a framework for future land development and co-ordination of services in their area. They are also responsible for determining when planning permission is required and how it should be obtained. You should be familiar with the development plan process and should ensure that your interests are properly reflected at all stages in the preparation and adoption of the development plan. Prior to acquiring land with existing buildings or for new buildings, you should check with your local authority that planning consent for the required use will be granted. An 'outline' planning consent (that is, approval to a use in principle) reserves consent from the details sought in the full planning consent. Local authorities may place a wide range of restrictions on development at this stage, and so they need to be identified as early as possible. Environmental impact assessments are increasingly becoming a requirement of the local authority planning approval process. In particular you will need to produce transport plans for any development to ensure it is accessible to the public. Planning permission is not generally required for:

• internal alterations
• changes of use where both old and new uses fall within the same use class as set out in the Use Classes Order
• development permitted by the General Permitted Development Order
• demolition, except in the case of a residential building, or part of any building (This is a complex area – consult advisers before commencing demolition to ensure that permission is not required)