Planning permission to move front door?

[jenna288]

We moved our front door location approx 3 foot to the left of the original in 2016. At the time I googled planning permission and I somehow came back with the answer that it wasn't needed. Professional builder did the job for us and the new door was located where an existing window was so apparently made it much easier. I was just looking into a small extension at the side of our house and came across needing planning permission to move a door! I can't seem to find anywhere anything that says you don't need it and now I'm worried this will cause me problems. Has the law perhaps changed since 2016? What issues could this cause ?

[fefifoe]

I was looking to do the same , move our rear door a few feet to where a window was and block up the door space. My builder said i would need planning permission so i decided against it- this was 2 months ago

[vhm672]

Can't answer about whether you should have obtained planning permission but if the works were done in 2016 then you are well outside planning enforcement periods if you are in England.

If it also needed building regulations then there is no time limit but you can insure if it becomes an issue on sale and it won't be expensive.

[jenna288]

Thank you. What do you mean by outside planning enforcement? Is there a certain number of years that you can be told to move it back? Im not sure where I came up with the answer of not needing planning permission 🙈

[Lisa123wm]

Originally Posted by jenna288

Thank you. What do you mean by outside planning enforcement? Is there a certain number of years that you can be told to move it back? Im not sure where I came up with the answer of not needing planning permission 🙈

See more...

Yes there is. Planning enforcement has just recently changed from 4 to 10 years.

[shack69]

As i understand it it used to be that if you have done something which should of had planning permission and its not spotted within 4 years you get a pass on the permission. Building controls has no limits , so if you say changed a loft to a bedroom you would still need to get building control sign off.
But last year the 'Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (LURA)' came in which changed some of the time frames to 10 years, but i think its not retrospective.
I'm sure one of the builders on the formum will be able to give a better answer.

[Anne]

Next door have blocked up their side door this month. Didn't need planning but have had to get approval.

[vhm672]

Originally Posted by shack69

As i understand it it used to be that if you have done something which should of had planning permission and its not spotted within 4 years you get a pass on the permission. Building controls has no limits , so if you say changed a loft to a bedroom you would still need to get building control sign off.
But last year the 'Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (LURA)' came in which changed some of the time frames to 10 years, but i think its not retrospective.
I'm sure one of the builders on the formum will be able to give a better answer.

See more...

Lawyer not builder but it was not retrospective so the old limits apply hence my original comment. By 2020 the breach of planning was therefore regularised.

[Andy C]

As above - if your non-approved development has been in place for 4 or more years and no complaint has been raised, it is now immune from enforcement, under Section 171B of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (there are some that are subject to a 10 year rule, but a move of a door would be under the four year rule).

As of 25th April this year, it's been extended to 10 years for all changes, but if your change has been in place for four years prior to then, it's still covered.

But if it was reported and the council were to raise enforcement action, you might have to prove it had been in place for 4+ years (old photos would probably do the job for that). In addition, councils are enjoined to try to find a solution rather than a punishment.

If you're worried about it at all and/or you wish to get it made official and approved for when you come to sell your house, you can apply for a Lawful Development Certificate to "regularise" the development. If you can readily prove that it had been more than four years, then it is mandatory for them to issue an LDC (they cost about £100 or so, I believe).

[jenna288]

Thanks everyone! 🙂