Planning Permission

What is retrospective planning permission?

If you have made a change to your property that requires planning permission and you have not had approval, a local authority can request that you submit a retrospective planning application for the work that you have already carried out. The local authority will make the request to the owner or occupier of the land concerned.

Although a local authority may ask for a planning application to be submitted, it does not mean that planning permission will automatically be granted and the application will be treated in the usual way.

If the retrospective application is refused, the local authority can issue an enforcement notice which requires you to put things back as they were.

• Read more about failure to comply with planning permission¹.
• Find out more information on retrospective planning applications on GOV.uk².

1. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/responsibilities/planning-permission/failure-to-obtain-or-comply-with-planning-permission
2. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ensuring-effective-enforcement#Retrospective-planning-application