🌟Retrospective Planning Permission

Regularise Your Build. Protect Your Property. Move Forward With Confidence.

If you’ve carried out work without planning permission — or the council has raised concerns — SMARTePLANS can help you secure retrospective approval quickly, professionally, and with minimal stress. We turn a potentially complicated situation into a smooth, well‑managed process.

🔧 What Is Retrospective Planning Permission?

Retrospective planning permission allows you to legalise work that’s already been completed. Whether it’s an extension, outbuilding, conversion, or internal alteration, we help you bring your project into full compliance and avoid costly enforcement action.

📌 When You Need It

You may require retrospective permission if:

• Work was completed without planning approval
• The council has contacted you about a planning breach
• You’re preparing to sell or remortgage
• A neighbour has raised a concern
• You want peace of mind that everything is legally sound

If any of these apply, acting quickly is essential — and we handle everything for you.

🏛️ How Councils Assess Retrospective Applications

Local authorities judge retrospective applications exactly the same way as standard planning submissions. That means:

• Design and appearance
• Neighbour impact
• Conservation or heritage constraints
• Highways, access and parking
• Local planning policies

Our job is to present your development in the strongest possible light, backed by professional plans and a clear planning argument.

⚠️ If Your Application Is Refused

A refusal can lead to an enforcement notice, requiring you to:

• Modify the development, or
• Remove it entirely

We help you avoid this outcome — and if enforcement has already begun, we can support you through the appeal process.

⏳ The 4‑Year & 10‑Year Rules

In some cases, development may be immune from enforcement:

• 4 years for physical building works
• 10 years for change of use or breach of conditions

If you’re unsure which applies, we’ll assess your situation and advise on the best route forward.

🏡 Has the 4‑Year Planning Rule Changed?

✅ Yes — in England, the 4‑year rule ended on 25 April 2024

The Levelling‑up and Regeneration Act 2023 brought the change into force, replacing the 4‑year rule with a single 10‑year enforcement period for all breaches of planning control.

This means:

• Unauthorised building works (extensions, outbuildings, structural works)
• Unauthorised changes of use
• Breaches of planning conditions

…all now fall under the 10‑year rule.

🕰️ Transitional Arrangements (This Is Where It Gets Tricky)

Although the 4‑year rule has been abolished, it still applies if:

✔️ The development was substantially completed before 25 April 2024

If the works were finished before that date, you can still rely on the 4‑year rule when applying for a Certificate of Lawfulness.

✔️ You can prove 4 years of continuous existence

Evidence must show the development has existed unchanged for at least 4 years before 25 April 2024.

If the works were completed after 25 April 2024, the 4‑year rule no longer applies — only the 10‑year rule.

🌍 England vs Wales

• England: 4‑year rule abolished (with transitional protections)
• Wales: 4‑year rule still fully in force

📌 Summary Table

🧭 What This Means for Homeowners (and for SMARTePLANS clients)

If someone built:

• An extension
• A loft conversion
• An outbuilding
• Internal structural works

…before 25 April 2024, they may still qualify under the 4‑year rule.

If built after that date, they must wait 10 years or apply for retrospective permission.

This is a perfect opportunity for SMARTePLANS to offer:

• Evidence gathering
• Certificate of Lawfulness applications
• Retrospective planning applications
• Enforcement support

🚀 How SMARTePLANS Helps You Win Approval

We provide a complete, end‑to‑end service:

• Full assessment of your development
• Professional drawings and plans
• Planning statements tailored to your council
• Submission and management of your application
• Support with enforcement or appeals if required

We take the stress out of the process — so you can focus on enjoying your home, not fighting paperwork. Get in touch today!