Guide to Planning Permissions for Doors | Ayrton Bespoke

Guide to Planning Permissions for Doors in London

What you need to know about designing, building, and renovating doors your entrance doors.

Alterations, installations, and upgrades to your home become an overwhelming prospect when considering the seemingly endless chasm of planning permission, regulatory compliance, form filling, and general confusion about what you can and can’t do! Making sure you are fully up-to-date on what’s allowed and what’s not is a process in itself, but it will give you peace of mind and confidence for your next project.

Whether you’re building a new home or refurbishing your current home – including listed buildings, apartments, and terraced houses – this guide to planning permission for doors across the UK will help you save time and energy, and potentially help keep costs down.

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An Overview of Planning Permissions for Doors

Before undertaking any home development, alteration project, or general upgrade, it’s important to consult your local regulatory body to avoid surprises down the line. Planning permission is not always necessary, but making sure you are in the clear before beginning work can save the disappointment and frustration of an oversight. Various factors determine which type of planning permissions for doors you will require.

Building type

The type of building you plan to alter or where you intend to install new doors will determine the planning permissions required. For example, in residential buildings, door replacements are typically considered permitted developments, meaning you likely won’t need to seek approval from your local authority.

For flats, apartments, or maisonettes specifically, different rules may apply. Given the shared nature of the dwelling, you may need to seek permission from the relevant authorities before proceeding with your work.

When it comes to commercial buildings or listed buildings, further restrictions are likely relevant. In the case of a project of either type, you will almost certainly need to seek approval before making changes, installations, or alterations. Listed building consent is required if you plan on altering or extending a listed building that may affect the character or appearance of the building. You can apply for listed building consent through your local planning authority, and checking with a conservation officer is a great place to start.

Conservation Areas

If you plan on conducting work in a conservation area – i.e. if your building sits in a conservation area – you will need to seek planning permission from the local authorities who oversee approval.

Alterations to doors that are visible to pedestrians or passers-by may directly impact the visual aesthetic of the broader conservation area, especially if the wrong materials or designs are used. Prior to work beginning, conservation area consent planning permission is typically required.

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Materials and Design

Material changes to your door are especially relevant to alterations, replacements, and upgrades. Before your work begins, you may need to seek planning permission. Many homeowners consider upgrading their front door to enhance their home’s appeal and aesthetic and make a lasting impression. For example, switching from a uPVC door to a beautiful timber door can dramatically improve the entire property’s aesthetic. If you live in a conservation area,, or a listed building, despite your keenness to make the change, you’ll need to get approval.

You may also change your doors after planning permission has been granted, as long as the changes are deemed acceptable by the relevant authorities. If the scale or dimensions of your door do not waver and have a minimal impact on your home’s overall appearance, you’re most likely in the clear. Still, it’s best to check ahead of work.

Internal Doors vs External Doors

When people think of planning permissions for doors, they tend to focus on their front door; that central, eye-catching figurehead that can truly transform a space and introduce a whole new character to a home.

However, internal doors also need to be changed, altered, or installed every once in a while. Luckily, internal doors never require planning permission! As long as the door installation or change is not part of more extensive changes, like knocking down walls, you can change your internal doors according to your own prerogative!

External doors are far more likely to be subject to planning permissions, as described above. Changing a property’s structure, appearance, or character may well be cause for proper planning permission.

Article 4 Directions

Article 4 Directions (A4Ds) are planning laws that place limits on the development rights of a specific property or area. Generally, A4Ds might be seen as ‘spoil-sport’ directives, as they are used to preserve the appearance, amenities, and aesthetics of properties. They don’t explicitly stop development, but they do necessitate planning permissions, especially for doors.

Local councils use A4Ds to restrict Permitted Development Rights for certain types of properties, like ones in areas deemed unsuitable for development. Installing new doors may well fall under these cases.

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How to apply for planning permission for doors

With the above points in mind, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to help you prepare for your planning permission application for your new doors. You can apply to any local planning authority (LPA) in the UK through the planning portal or contact the LPA directly online.

At Ayrton Bespoke, we recommend the latter option for any project involving new doors. By doing so, you’ll clarify your home’s status and any A4Ds that might apply. If your home does not have any Permitted Development Rights and planning approval is required, follow these steps:

1. Prepare your supporting documents

For your planning permission for doors application, collect any detailed plans, outlines, or drawings of the door or doors you’re planning on installing. It helps if the plans include dimensions, descriptions of the materials being used, and any other relevant bespoke design specifications you intend to use.

For listed homes or those in conservation areas, photographs and relevant historical or cultural details should be included. Working with experienced contractors can make the process more straightforward. Ask them for advice on completing the forms and the right materials or dimensions to use. Chances are your contractor has done it all before!

2. Complete your application

Submit your planning application through the online planning portal mentioned above or send it straight to your LPA. Make sure that your completed application form is accompanied by site and project plans, as well as a heritage statement if your project pertains to a listed building.

Many resources are available for guidance on a heritage statement. Here’s one from the UK government’s website.

3. Pay the application fee and await a decision

Application fees for planning permissions for doors vary from council to council, but you can expect a fee of around £200.

LPAs aim to thoroughly review and obtain the results of an application within 8 weeks of submission. For listed buildings, those in conservation areas, or projects that are larger in scale than average – multiple-family homes and developments – the timeline can extend a bit. Once you’ve received your result and your project has been approved, it’s off to the races! Just make sure you comply with any conditions stated in your decision notice.

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Trust Ayrton Bespoke for expert advice on planning permission for doors.
With years of experience assisting our clients in getting planning permission for doors, let Ayrton Bespoke take the hassle out of upgrading your home.
Bespoke Timber Doors from Ayrton Bespoke

Ayrton Bespoke has been supplying residents of London and the wider UK with bespoke timber doors for over 25 years. We are fully certified and experienced in designing, manufacturing, and installing timber doors with confidence, care, and expertise. Whether you’re looking for conservation-spec doors, restoring a listed building to its original charm, or simply upgrading your home, Ayrton Bespoke has an endless list of timber door solutions.

For beautifully crafted bespoke timber windows without the hassle of navigating bureaucracy, contact Ayrton Bespoke for an obligation-free quote today. Contact us at 020 8877 8920 or through our online portal.

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