retrospective planning permission for windows

[nikki73]

I am lacking pp for Windows installed over 4 years ago.should I apply for planning permission or a certificate of lawful development? How long will it take? Do I need an agent. I am about to loose my purchase as a result.any tips please

[bemusED]

you shouldn't need planning permission unless your property is listed or in a conservation area.

maybe you mean building control approval?

did you use a FENSA approved installer? they should have provided you with a certificate confirming that the windows comply with current building regulations, thus avoiding the need to seek agreement with building control at the council.

[nikki73]

Windows on my property need pp. No fensa unfortunately. Work done by a previous owner. No clue when.

[Jeremy]

The best solution may be for the buyer to take out indemnity insurance against the lack of planning permission - I think it's a fairly common thing to do. If I was a buyer I'd ask the seller to knock the cost of this off the price.

[nikki73]

Thanks but Im not selling my property. I need to put things straight with planning. Indemnity wont do the trick. My question is really is pp or lawful development better.

[red devil]

I'm confused. If you're not selling then why is it a problem? Why would you lose a purchase?

If it's a property you're buying then what's to stop you buying it without PP? Is it something a mortgage company has insisted on?

And you haven't confirmed whether the property is in a Conservation Area or not. If it is then PD won't apply anyway.

And you don't need PP if the windows were replaced 'like for like'. How do you know if there has been a material change or not?

There's also a timeframe when retrospective PP cannot be enforced by an authority.

Planning and PD both take around 8 weeks from submission of application.

Here's some links, personally I think you'll be better off speaking to planning directly...

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/doorswindows/

http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/485/planning_applications/609/advice_and_help_with_planning_applications

http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/planning-permission-not-obtained-123/

[the-e-dealer]

If the windows need planning or conservation permission and don't have it you are at risk of having to reinstate old windows. Thats what is the problem. Can you say roughly where you are I know most of the Conservation areas.

[ClareC]

We had this problem..... I think the rules changed, basically velux windows didn't previously need BRC but do now - they had been installed more than 4 years previous and all was sorted by indemnity insurance.

Retrospective BRC wasn't the issue, the time it takes to gain is!