For the best chance of success, ensure your design fits into its surroundings. That doesn’t have to mean going for a standard house – you can still create an adventurous contemporary home, as demonstrated by this project, which won planning permission first time thanks to the way it references the wooded plot
MIKE BLACK
Most self builders and renovators, having secured a plot or building to convert or refurbish, want to get on with the build as quickly as possible. With planning applications taking at least two months from submission to decision, nobody wants to go through the process more than once if they can avoid it. So, what are the causes of delays and refusals in the planning process – and what steps can you take to avoid them and give yourself the best possible chance of securing consent at the first attempt?
Common sticking points