Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015, No. 596 (as amended)

The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 (GPDO 2015) is a key piece of planning legislation in the United Kingdom that grants certain permitted development rights, allowing specified types of development to proceed without the need for planning permission. Here's a summary of its key aspects:

Purpose:

The primary purpose of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 is to streamline the planning process and facilitate certain types of development by granting permitted development rights. The GPDO 2015 sets out categories of development that are considered to have minimal impact on the environment or local communities, allowing them to proceed without the need for planning permission, subject to specified limitations and conditions.

Requirements:

1. Permitted Development Rights: The GPDO 2015 grants permitted development rights for specific categories of development, such as changes of use, small-scale extensions, alterations to buildings, and installation of certain types of infrastructure. These permitted development rights allow eligible development to proceed without the need to apply for planning permission from the local planning authority.
2. Conditions and Limitations: Permitted development rights under the GPDO 2015 are subject to specified conditions, limitations, and restrictions set out in the legislation. These conditions ensure that permitted development is carried out in a manner that minimizes adverse impacts on the environment, amenity, and character of the area, and protects the interests of local communities.
3. Prior Approval Procedure: Some types of permitted development require prior approval from the local planning authority before they can proceed. This includes certain types of changes of use, alterations to agricultural buildings, and installation of telecommunications infrastructure. Prior approval allows planning authorities to assess the potential impacts of proposed development and impose conditions or limitations to address any concerns.

Applicability:

The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 applies to property owners, developers, and individuals carrying out development projects in England. It sets out the permitted development rights and procedures for specific types of development, providing clarity and certainty for those undertaking eligible development.

Overall, the GPDO 2015 plays a crucial role in simplifying the planning process, supporting economic growth, and facilitating certain types of development while ensuring that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect the environment, amenity, and character of local communities. It provides a framework for eligible development to proceed efficiently and effectively within defined parameters, contributing to the sustainable development of urban and rural areas across England.

The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 (GPDO 2015) grants certain permitted development rights, allowing specified types of development to proceed without the need for planning permission. While the GPDO 2015 generally exempts developments covered under permitted development rights from the traditional planning permission process, evidence requirements may still apply in certain cases. Here's a summary of the evidence requirements under the GPDO 2015:

1. Compliance with Permitted Development Criteria: Developers must ensure that their proposed development meets all the criteria and conditions set out in the relevant parts of the GPDO 2015 that grant permitted development rights. Evidence demonstrating compliance with these criteria may be required by local planning authorities during the development process.
2. Prior Approval Documentation: Some types of permitted development under the GPDO 2015 require prior approval from the local planning authority before they can proceed. Developers may need to submit documentation and evidence as part of the prior approval process to demonstrate compliance with specific requirements or address any concerns raised by the planning authority.
3. Technical Reports and Assessments: Depending on the nature and scale of the proposed development, developers may need to provide technical reports, assessments, or studies to support their application for permitted development rights or prior approval. This may include reports on environmental impacts, heritage assessments, flood risk assessments, transport assessments, or other relevant studies.
4. Drawings and Plans: Developers are typically required to submit detailed drawings, plans, and specifications showing the proposed development, its location, design, dimensions, materials, and other relevant details. These drawings and plans serve as visual evidence to help planning authorities assess the nature and impact of the proposed development.
5. Public Consultation Responses: In some cases, developers may be required to engage in public consultation as part of the prior approval process for permitted development. Evidence of consultation responses, feedback received, and measures taken to address concerns raised by the public or stakeholders may need to be documented and submitted to the planning authority.
6. Legal Compliance: Developers must ensure that their proposed development complies with all relevant planning legislation, regulations, and policies, in addition to the provisions of the GPDO 2015. Evidence of legal compliance may be required by planning authorities to assess the validity of permitted development rights and determine whether the proposed development can proceed without planning permission.

Overall, while the GPDO 2015 streamlines the planning process for certain types of development, evidence may still be required to demonstrate compliance with relevant criteria, conditions, and legal requirements. Developers should be prepared to provide documentation, reports, and other evidence as necessary to support their applications for permitted development rights or prior approval under the GPDO 2015.