Permitted development in Brighton & Hove
Many home extensions across Brighton & Hove — Brighton, Hove, Portslade and Rottingdean and the surrounding area — are "permitted development" and don't need a planning application, as long as they stay inside the GPDO 2015 limits. But those rights are reduced or removed by a conservation area, an Article 4 direction, or being in South Downs National Park (park area administered by SDNPA). Buildwise reads your postcode, flags the constraints that apply in Brighton & Hove, and tells you where you stand — free.
Lawful in Brighton & Hove — and provable
If your project is permitted development, a Lawful Development Certificate is a formal Brighton & Hove confirmation that it's lawful — invaluable when you sell, and proof if a neighbour ever questions it. If you need Prior Approval (like a larger rear extension) Buildwise produces the right statement for that instead. Where a full application is needed, it engages Brighton & Hove's adopted policies (DM18 (High Quality Design and Places), DM20 (Protection of Amenity)) directly.
- Brighton & Hove City Plan Part One (2016)
- Brighton & Hove City Plan Part Two (2022)
How it works
Postcode + project type; Brighton & Hove constraints detected automatically.
Sizes, heights and boundaries — a few minutes.
Permitted → LDC statement; needs prior approval or permission → the right document for that.
Example (excerpt)
"The single-storey rear extension does not exceed the depth, height and eaves limits of Class A of the GPDO 2015, and the site lies outside any Article 4 direction. The proposal is therefore lawful development, for which a certificate is sought under s.192 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990…"
Frequently asked questions
Run Buildwise's free permitted-development check for your Brighton & Hove postcode. It tests your project against the GPDO 2015 limits and flags local constraints — conservation areas, Article 4 directions and the South Downs National Park (park area administered by SDNPA) — that can remove permitted-development rights.
A Lawful Development Certificate (LDC) is a formal confirmation from Brighton & Hove that your work is lawful permitted development. It isn't compulsory, but it's strongly recommended — especially before selling. Buildwise generates the supporting statement.
Larger rear extensions and some other classes need a prior-approval notification rather than a full application. Buildwise detects this and produces the right supporting statement.
Yes — the permitted development check is always free. If you go on to generate a DAS or appeal, your first document is free too.
Check your Brighton & Hove project free — no card needed.
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