Some of our products, most notably the classroom buildings, may require planning permission. We do stress however that it is the customer’s responsibility to ensure that the necessary planning permission is sought and approved before any building work can commence.
However if you need any help or advice on this matter, we are able to assist in this instance and can provide you with the necessary advice and drawings if so required.
A lot of the buildings we install at schools do not require planning permission because they fall under Permitted Development Rights (PDR). However, there are certain stipulations for this exemption which are highlighted below.
But you would still need to check that your school has not already used up its PDR with other building and development work for example.
Some local authorities nowadays offer a pre-application service whereby you meet a planning officer for an informal discussion before you submit a more formal application. Some local planning authorities charge for this service so it’s a good idea to check first.
By virtue of Part 7 Class M of the Town & Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 the relevant provisions can be summarised as follows:-
The erection, extension or alteration of a school is permitted development provided that:-
(a) the cumulative gross floor space of any buildings erected, extended or altered would not exceed —
(i) 25% of the gross floor space of the original school, college, university or hospital buildings; or
(ii)100 square metres,
whichever is the lesser;
(b) no part of the development would be within 5 metres of a boundary of the curtilage of the premises;
(c) no land used as a playing field at any time in the 5 years before the development commenced and remaining in this use, could no longer be so used
as the result of the development;
(d) the height of any new building erected would not exceed 5 metres;
(e) the height of the building as extended or altered would not exceed—
(i) if within 10 metres of a boundary of the curtilage of the premises, 5 metres; or
(ii) in all other cases, the height of the building being extended or altered;
(f) the development is not within the curtilage of a listed building;