Planning Tools For Faster, Safer First Decisions
Use these tools as one decision system: narrow the route quickly, spot what changes the answer and move into the right project guide, topic hub or local authority page before the wrong next step costs money.
Choose The Tool That Matches The Doubt You Actually Have
Best starting point
Start with a tool when you need a fast first-pass answer before committing to deeper reading or local page comparisons.
What to do after the result
Move into the matching project guide, council page or rule hub rather than treating the tool output as a stopping point.
When to escalate
If the result feels borderline, assume the next step is a certificate, pre-app conversation or another formal check, not more guesswork.
The Main Tools In The Decision System
Do I Need Planning Permission?
Work through a structured project check to see whether the scheme looks likely permitted development, may need planning permission, or depends on local constraints.
Open toolPlanning Route Check
Answer a short set of homeowner questions and get a cautious first-pass route for permitted development, planning permission, council approvals and professional review.
Open toolWhat Can I Build? Explorer
Explore the home project types that are most likely to fit your property before you dive into detailed planning checks.
Open toolExtension Value Estimator
Estimate likely property value uplift from extension-led projects using project type, size, finish level and planning confidence.
Open toolPermitted Development Calculator
Estimate whether a common home project may fit within permitted development rules.
Open toolPlanning Rejection Risk Analyzer
Analyse the main refusal risks for a home project, including scale, neighbour impact, design character and local policy constraints.
Open toolProject Requirements Generator
Build a practical planning prep pack covering requirements, documents and next checks for a home project.
Open toolSite Constraint Checker
Identify the planning constraint most likely to block progress, then jump to the right rule page or tool.
Open toolPlanning Route Planner
Map the approval route most likely to matter, including mixed routes such as planning, listed building or highway approvals.
Open toolHeight Limits Self-Check
Use a quick self-check for maximum height allowed questions before you read the full guidance.
Open toolDepth Limits Self-Check
Use a quick self-check for how far can i build out questions before you read the full guidance.
Open toolBoundary Distance Rules Self-Check
Use a quick self-check for distance from boundary questions before you read the full guidance.
Open toolConservation Area Restrictions Self-Check
Use a quick self-check for rules in conservation areas questions before you read the full guidance.
Open toolListed Building Restrictions Self-Check
Use a quick self-check for listed building consent questions before you read the full guidance.
Open toolArticle 4 Restrictions Self-Check
Use a quick self-check for article 4 direction questions before you read the full guidance.
Open toolMaximum Height Rules Self-Check
Use a quick self-check for maximum building height questions before you read the full guidance.
Open toolDistance From Boundary Self-Check
Use a quick self-check for distance from boundary rules questions before you read the full guidance.
Open toolRoof Alterations Self-Check
Use a quick self-check for roof changes planning permission questions before you read the full guidance.
Open toolBest Way To Use Them
- Start with a tool when you need a fast answer to the planning route question.
- Move to the project guide once you know what type of work you are really assessing.
- Check the local authority layer if the site may be in a conservation area, listed, or affected by Article 4 restrictions.
Need A More Tailored Steer Than A Quick Tool Can Give?
The tools are built to narrow the route quickly. If your case still feels too specific, too local or too borderline for a generic result, use the structured guidance form for a more tailored case-specific steer.
Best for
Borderline, awkward or site-specific cases where broad guidance has helped, but the answer still turns on facts that are unique to your property or proposal.
What the reply aims to do
The reply aims to narrow the likely route, flag the tripwires that matter most, and tell you which verification step is safest before more money is spent.
What to include
Property type, council area, location, the change you want to make, approximate dimensions, relevant heritage or flat-related details, previous additions and the main concern.
Important: Replies are informational personalised guidance based on the details you provide and publicly available information. They are not formal legal, architectural, surveying or council advice. Site-specific or borderline cases may still need checking with the local authority or a qualified specialist before drawings, applications or contractor spend move ahead.
Your enquiry details are used to respond to your request. Anonymised themes may be used to improve guides, tools, FAQs and site content. Identifiable case details are not published without permission, and sending an enquiry does not sign you up to marketing emails. Privacy notice.