Worthing Borough Council

Planning permission is not always required when undertaking alterations and additions to a single dwelling house. 

New permitted development rules introduced by the Government on 1st October, 2008 mean many homeowners will no longer need to apply for planning permission to extend their homes.

The Government has introduced changes to Permitted Development in an attempt to reduce the amount of red tape for householders seeking to improve their homes.

Permitted development governs the changes that can be made to an existing house without the need for a planning application to be submitted to the local planning authority.  This does not affect the need for building regulations approval.

Full details of the new rules can be found on the Planning Portal website.

The planning web page features an interactive guide to help consumers to understand the new planning requirements.  Users can simply click on the part of the house they are thinking of changing to find an explanation of the rules.

If you are proposing an extension or addition to your property, you can ask Planning Services whether Planning and/or Building Regulation approval is required.  You can do this by completing an on-line Planning/Building Regulations Enquiry Form and forwarding it by post or e-mail to planning@worthing.gov.uk

You must obtain the separate approval of West Sussex County Council Highways Department if the new driveway crosses a pavement or verge - email highways.southern@westsussex.gov.uk with details.  You will also need to apply for planning permission if your property is a flat or if the proposed driveway is onto a trunk or other classified road.  There are other circumstances when planning permission will be required.  You should therefore write to the Planning Services Section or email planning@worthing.gov.uk to check before commencing work.

Planning permission may not be required where the use or part of a dwelling house for business purposes does not materially change the overall character of its use as a residence.  The Department for Communities and Local Government has produced a booklet - Planning Permission: A Guide for Business, which gives advice about working from home and whether planning permission is likely to be required.

Planning Permission:  A Guide for Business

If you are unsure whether you require planning permission you should write or email planning@worthing.gov.uk, providing full details of the work you propose to undertake from home including information about deliveries and business callers.

Details of planning fees and exemptions are shown on the following quick guide.

Guide to Planning Fees

The following information is required to accompany all planning applications:

• 4 copies of a completed application form
• 4 copies of a plan to a scale of 1:1250 which identifies the land to which the application relates. For details on how and where to get suitable maps for planning applications, please see the Ordnance Survey Extracts page
• 4 copies of other plans and drawings or information necessary to describe the subject of the application
• 4 copies of a Completed Ownership Certificate
• the correct fee

In addition, certain applications require 4 copies of a Design and Access Statement.  Help on how to write access statements is available from the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE).

Design and Access Statements - How to write, read and use them

Adverisement Consent may be required to display signs or advertisements.  To identify the types of signs and advertisements that require consent you can refer to the Guide on Outdoor advertisements and Signs produced by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Outdoor Advertisements and Signs: A Guide for Advertisers

If you are unsure whether advertisement consent is required you should write to the Planning Services Section or email planning@worthing.gov.uk.  Please provide full details of proposed signs and their location including the method of illumination (if applicable).

Yes, by using the link to the Planning Portal.  The Portal allows you to complete a planning application form on-line and attach your drawings.  You can also buy site maps and calculate the planning fee using the on-line fee calculator.

Planning Portal

You can make a complaint by email or letter to the Planning Services Section or use our on-line Planning Enforcement Complaint form.

Planning Enforcement Complaint Form