Planning permission explained

The main types

The type tells you how settled the proposal is, which matters when you are deciding whether to engage.

• Householder, extensions and alterations to a single home. Small, quick, and decided by officers.
• Full, everything is specified and the decision settles the whole scheme.
• Outline, establishes the principle only, with details ("reserved matters") to follow. Objecting to the principle is only possible at this stage.
• Reserved matters, the detail following an outline permission. The principle is already settled and cannot be reopened.
• Change of use, the building stays, what happens inside it changes.
• Listed building consent, required in addition to planning permission for work to a listed building.
• Prior approval, for permitted development where the council may only consider specific, limited issues.

Why "conditions" and "amendments" matter less

A large share of any register is made up of applications to discharge conditions or make non-material amendments to a permission that already exists. The principle has been decided; only the detail is in play.

PlotSignal filters these out by default for exactly that reason. You can turn them back on if you are tracking a specific site through to completion.

What "major development" means

Major development has a statutory definition: ten or more dwellings, or a site of one hectare or more, or over 1,000 square metres of floorspace.

It matters because major applications get a longer determination period, wider consultation, and are much more likely to go to a planning committee where the public can speak.