Development Control

The Development Control Team deals with applications, and related appeals, for planning permission, listed building, conservation area and advertisement consents, and works to protected trees. It gives pre-application advice on planning and related matters and runs the annual visit/review of implemented developments.

Do I need planning permission?

You can refer to the general guides published on the Department for Communities and Local Government website and the visual guides from the Planning Portal

Visual Guide for Householders	Volume Calculator
A Householders Planning Guide for the Installation of Antennas, including Satellite dishes	Visual Guide for Antennas
Home Energy Generation	Microgeneration Equipment - a guide produced by Harrogate Borough Council.
Guidance on the permeable surfacing of front gardens
Planning Permission: A Guide for Business
Outdoor advertisements & signs: A guide for advertisers You are advised to consult the full Regulations for details as the guide currently contains errors and omissions.
A Farmer's Guide to the Planning System
Planning and access for disabled people: a good practice guide

Harrogate Borough Council works in partnership with the Planning Portal to provide services and information about the planning system.

For Householders

The regulations about Householder Permitted Development Rights have been revised and came into effect on 1st October 2008. The Visual Guide for Householders from the Planning Portal is an interactive guide to the rules for both planning and building regulations.

New guidance detailing extensions, improvements and alterations that a householder may make to their house and the area around it without the need for an application for planning permission has been published by Central Government. This can be downloaded from the Planning Portal: Permitted development for householders - Technical Guidance

The Council offers the following commentary to clarify certain aspects of this guidance. This commentary may be subject to change following consideration of any subsequent appeal decisions or additional guidance that may be issued.

DCLG Guidance		Harrogate Council Clarification
Class A	...the enlargement, improvement or other alteration of a house.	This does not allow the construction of a basement.
Class A A1 (d) and Class B B1 (b)...	the enlarged part......fronts a highway and extend beyond the plane of any existing roof slope which...... fronts a highway - the guidance states that where the distance between the house and the highway "is substantial, it unlikely that a building can be said to 'front' the highway"	The Council considers "substantial" to mean 20 metres or more.
Class B B2 (a)	the materials used in any exterior work shall be of similar appearance..." - the guidance states that "...flat roofs of dormer windows will not normally have any visual impact..."	Where a dormer roof is clearly visible from the street due to, for example, differing ground levels, then the requirement for materials to be similar to the house roof will apply.
Class E E1 (d)	the height of the building, enclosure or container... - the guidance states that "The height limit on a 'dual-pitched roof' ......should also be applied to buildings that have 'hipped' roofs (slopes on all four sides)"	The Council considers that any roof that has a number of pitched or sloped sides such as a pyramidal or octagonal roof will be covered under this term. This does not apply to a mono pitched roof.

We will check if your own project requires permission if you send us a completed Householder Planning Check Form.

If you are thinking of moving house you will need to consider whether the house you are moving to will meet your needs now and in the future take a look at our leaflet "Moving House? Looking Ahead" (68kb).

Going Smoke Free

Smoke free legislation in the Health Act 2006 came into force at 6am on Sunday 1 July 2007. This affects most public premises, including restaurants, pubs, bars, shops, cinemas, shopping centres, leisure centres, offices, factories and other enclosed workplaces and public transport.

Going Smoke Free - A Planning Advice Note on Smoking Shelters and Other Features (54kb)

Advice to businesses on going smoke free (page link)