Existing Lawful Development
If you are in doubt as to whether or not existing buildings, operations, activities or uses of land are lawful, you may apply to the Council for a Lawful Development Certificate by completing an application form and returning it with the necessary supporting documentation and prescribed fee (see Scale of Fees).
In submitting an application you should provide as much information as possible including where appropriate plans, drawings, photographs and witness statements in support of your claim.**
If there is insufficient information presented to satisfy the Council that the use, operation or activity is lawful, a Certificate will not be issued.
- If you would like to know whether or not proposed development, or change of use of land would be lawful you may Lawful Development Certificates Existing Application Forms
- Validation checklist for planning Lawful Dev Cert notes
Describe precisely the location of the land to which your application relates and attach two copies of an Ordnance Survey based plan showing the boundary of the land in red.
** This would include claims that the change of use or operation was not development, or that it benefited from planning permission granted under the Act or by the General Development Order.
