Do I need planning permission?

Home Planning and building standards Do I need planning permission?

Do I need planning permission?

To alter, extend, build or change the use of premises you may need to apply for planning permission.

Advice and guidance

Planning Services can provide pre-application advice and guidance on development which needs approval from the Council, including:

the development of business and commercial properties, or making alterations to existing premises
the development of new housing
change in the use of land or buildings
outdoor advertisements
buildings in conservation areas
listed buildings
trees covered by tree preservation orders or within conservation areas

For general guidance on the scope of advice we can provide, please send us an email call Planning including a dimensioned sketch drawing of proposals with a location plan.

Please note that any guidance or advice we provide prior to the submission of a planning application is informal and is not binding on any decision subsequently taken by the Council.

Planning applications are determined in accordance with Local Development Plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

Permitted development Rights- Domestic

Not all alterations and extensions to domestic property need planning permission. Permitted Development Rights allow for a wide variety of extensions and alterations without the need to submit an application for planning permission.

These rights include alterations such as:

single storey ground floor extensions
front porches
access ramps
replacement windows
low level timber decking
driveways
heat pumps
CCTV cameras

The Guidance on permitted development (PDF, 1.1mb) will help you work out whether you need planning permission. This guidance was updated on 1^st April 2021. If you have any questions please contact us.

Even if planning permission is not required, there are other permissions that may be required such as:

Permitted Development Rights – non-domestic, agricultural, forestry and commercial developments

There are a wide variety of other Permitted Development Rights which are set out in the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992 (as amended) (GPDO). For site specific advice, please email us.

Certificates Of Lawfulness

Apply for a 'Certificate of Lawfulness for a Proposed Use' as written confirmation your development is 'Permitted Development'. This is a legal document for which there is a fee.

Contact Planning

Email

eplanning@north-ayrshire.gov.uk

Telephone

For all general enquiries about planning permission, please telephone 01294 324319 during office hours.

For planning permission related enquiries, choose from the following numbers:

North Coast (West Kilbride, Fairlie, Largs, Cumbrae, Skelmorlie): 01294 324320
Three Towns (Ardrossan, Saltcoats, Stevenston): 01294 324794
Isle of Arran: 01294 324316
Irvine: 01294 324318
Kilwinning & Garnock Valley (Dalry, Kilbirnie, Beith): 01294 324313

Please leave your name, your contact telephone number and brief description of your enquiry as clearly as possible.

We aim to return calls on the same or next working day.

For Local Development Plan and all other planning policy enquiries, please email LDP@north-ayrshire.gov.uk or telephone 01294 324763

Address

Letters can be posted to the following address:

Planning Services, North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine, KA12 8EE

Please note: If you wish to meet with a member of our team at Cunninghame House, please contact us and make an appointment beforehand. For your convenience, officers are also available to meet you at any location within North Ayrshire.

North Ayrshire Council