Planning permission, explained.
Plain-English guides to how UK planning permission works, grounded in the actual legislation - the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, the General Permitted Development Order, the Use Classes Order, the National Planning Policy Framework and Planning Policy Wales - not generic advice.
GapSense is an AI planning advisor for the UK. It reads the local plan and national policy that will decide your application, and screens your site before you commit. No card needed.
How long does planning permission last
The 3-year implementation period, the 8/13/16-week decision targets, discharge of conditions, and what happens if a permission lapses.
Read ->Lawful development certificates
The 4-year and 10-year rules, LDC existing vs proposed, and how to certify that a use or works are lawful - for sale or refinance certainty.
Read ->Retrospective planning permission
Applying for permission after the works are done, the enforcement time limits, and when a lawful development certificate is the better route.
Read ->Class Q: agricultural buildings to dwellings
The England-only prior-approval route to convert an agricultural building, the current cumulative limits, and how Wales differs.
Read ->Outline vs full planning permission
When to apply for outline consent and when to go straight to full, the reserved matters, and the cost and time trade-offs.
Read ->Material considerations
What counts as a material consideration, the section 38(6) starting point, the weight each carries, and the tilted balance.
Read ->Pre-application advice
What a council pre-app gives you, what it costs, what to bring, and when it is worth it - and when it is not.
Read ->The Use Classes Order
How land uses are classed, when a change of use needs permission, and the England (Class E) versus Wales split.
Read ->Working on a site? See where you stand.
Screen a site against the local plan and national policy that will decide it, in minutes. No card needed.