Permitted development in Canterbury
Many home extensions across Canterbury — Canterbury, Herne Bay, Whitstable and Sturry 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 Kent Downs National Landscape (AONB). Buildwise reads your postcode, flags the constraints that apply in Canterbury, and tells you where you stand — free.
Lawful in Canterbury — and provable
If your project is permitted development, a Lawful Development Certificate is a formal Canterbury 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 Canterbury's adopted policies (DBE3 (Principles of Design), DBE6 (Alterations and Extensions)) directly.
- Canterbury District Local Plan (adopted July 2017)
How it works
Postcode + project type; Canterbury 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 Canterbury postcode. It tests your project against the GPDO 2015 limits and flags local constraints — conservation areas, Article 4 directions and the Kent Downs National Landscape (AONB) — that can remove permitted-development rights.
A Lawful Development Certificate (LDC) is a formal confirmation from Canterbury 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 Canterbury project free — no card needed.
Your first document is free — on our most advanced AI. No card needed.
Get started free →