Do You Need Planning Permission for External Wall Work?

Typically, you won't need planning permission for minor tasks on your home's exterior walls, such as carrying out repairs, general upkeep, or giving your house a fresh coat of paint.

When Do You Definitely Need Planning Permission?

• Listed Buildings: If your property is a listed building – meaning it has special historical or architectural importance – you absolutely must secure listed building consent before undertaking any notable work, whether inside or outside your home.

• Cladding in Protected Areas: Thinking of covering your external walls with new materials like stone, artificial stone, pebble dash, render, timber, plastic, or tiles? You'll need to apply for planning permission if your home is situated in any of the following special conservation areas:

  • A Conservation Area

  • A National Park

  • An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

  • The Broads

However, if your property lies outside these specific protected regions, you can clad your house without needing planning permission. This is allowed only if the new materials you choose closely resemble the appearance of those originally used when the building was first constructed.

What Exactly Is Cladding?

Cladding involves adding materials or layers to the outside of your building's walls. Its primary functions include improving insulation, altering the visual appeal, and safeguarding the original wall structure.

• The material you select for cladding will directly influence both its look and how effectively it performs. For instance, uPVC and vinyl options frequently offer superior insulation properties compared to timber.

• Upkeep demands differ considerably between materials. You'll find that brick and cement cladding require very little maintenance, whereas wood and weatherboard finishes might involve consistent cleaning and periodic treatment.

• Although cladding offers additional protection, you must never install it onto walls that are structurally weak, damaged beyond repair, or simply cannot be fixed.