If you are the owner of an unoccupied property that is uninhabitable, or you already have a permanent home of your own – you may be wondering what development opportunities you have? Could you renovate the property so it may be sold for a profit or leased to tenants? Or could you demolish the property and build something new from the ground up?
In this article, we look at what restrictions you could face when considering demolition and re-building from scratch.
Do you need planning permission to demolish an unoccupied property?
In some cases, you do not need to seek planning permission or approval to demolish a building on your property. However, it is important to consider just some of the factors that could prevent you from demolishing your building or that may lead you to acquire planning permission:
- How long has the property been unoccupied for?
- Do you intend to demolish part of the property or the entire structure?
- Will demolishing the property have an environmental impact?
- Is there a demand for housing in the area?
- Are there, if any, historic restrictions placed on the building?
- What is the property made from? Does it contain traces of harmful building materials such as asbestos?
- What will the vacant land be used for after the building has been demolished? E.g. will it have a different use from what the original building was?
Certain buildings such as pubs or other drinking establishments, listed buildings of historical importance or buildings located in conservation areas, will need consent from either the local council or appropriate authority.
Buildings that are in a town or village with ‘character’ may also have to apply for a demolition application as to not spoil the integrity of the historic area.
It is always worth contacting your local council to see what exactly you are legally allowed to do to your property, before any renovations, demolition or construction work takes place. Further information on the government website can be found here.
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This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice or a recommendation. It does not take into account your individual circumstances. if in doubt, you should seek appropriate professional advice before acting on any of the information provided.
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