Planning permission is approval from your local council to carry out certain types of building work. Not all renovations require it, but larger changes or alterations that affect the exterior of your home often do.

Permitted development rights allow you to carry out certain types of work without needing full planning permission.

Renovation translation: Building Control Building control is the process that makes sure building work is safe and meets regulations. When certain types of renovation work are carried out, especially structural changes, building control officers check that everything complies with building regulations. They look at things like:

Renovation Translation: Snagging Snagging is the process of identifying and fixing small issues once the main construction work is complete. These are usually minor things — paint touch-ups, small gaps in joinery, doors that need adjusting, fixtures that need tightening.

A load bearing wall is a wall that supports the weight of the structure above it. This might include floors, roof structures, or other parts of the building. Because these walls are structural, they can’t simply be removed without adding another form of support, usually a steel beam.

New Build v Renovate? So you need to move house; its too small, its too big, we need a better area for schools, I need to be closer to...