Planning permission seeks to guide the way our towns, cities and countryside develop. This includes the use of land & buildings, the appearance of buildings, landscaping considerations, highway access and the impact that the development will have on the general environment.
Do I need planning permission?
Whether or not you need planning permission depends on a number of factors, including the size and location of the proposed development. You should always check if you need planning permission before starting any development work to a building.
The National Planning Portal provides a comprehensive guide as to what does and does not need planning permission. If you are in any doubt or would like formal confirmation, the Council’s Planning Department can provide you with a formal decision through a Lawful Development Certificate application.
Do I need building regulation approval?
Getting planning permission is a separate matter from complying with building regulations. The Planning Portal website has an interactive home guide which will help you identify if you need building regulation approval, planning permission or both.
How to apply for planning permission
The quickest and easiest way is to submit your application online via the Planning Portal. Register your details, logon and choose 'Knowsley' as the local authority before making your application. Getting advice before you begin your planning application can make it more likely that your application will be successful.
If you are unable or prefer not to use the Planning Portal to submit your application, you can download the most frequently used application forms and notes. These application forms are not interactive and you will need to print them out in order in order to fill them in. The forms can either be scanned and emailed to Knowsley Council’s Planning team together with relevant supporting plans and information at [email protected] or be sent by post to us.
Fees and how to pay
Most applications will require a fee. You can find out how much a planning application costs and use a fee calculator on the Planning Portal website.
If you are submitting directly to Knowsley Council (and not using the Planning Portal) payments can be made online through the Knowsley Council payment portal. When submitting your application, please make sure to forward a copy of the emailed receipt together with your application documents to [email protected].
We can accept MasterCard and Visa.
