Most small domestic demolition jobs in the UK do not need full planning permission — but there are important exceptions. Getting this wrong can mean enforcement action, so it is worth checking before work starts.
Usually no permission needed
In most cases you can demolish without a planning application:
- Detached garages, sheds and outbuildings under 50 cubic metres
- Garden walls and fences on your own land
- Internal chimney breasts (though building regulations still apply)
- Conservatories and porches added under permitted development
When you do need consent
Permission or notification is more likely when:
- The building is listed or in a conservation area
- The structure is attached to a neighbour's wall (Party Wall Act notice may be needed)
- You are demolishing a whole house or a large part of one
- The garage or wall fronts a highway and is over one metre high
Building regulations and party walls
Even when planning permission is not needed, removing a chimney breast or a load-bearing element needs building control involvement, and work on a shared wall needs a party wall notice to your neighbour. We flag these issues when we quote so there are no surprises.
Not sure? Ask first
Send us photos and your postcode and we will tell you what consents are likely to apply to your job before any work is booked.