Retrospective Planning Permission
A retrospective planning application asks the council to grant permission for work that has already been carried out. It's assessed on the same planning merits as any other application, not approved simply because the work already exists.
By John Langdown · 5 min read
The process itself mirrors a standard planning application: a submission to the local planning authority, a validation check, a consultation period, and a decision, usually within the same statutory timeframe as any other application, though in practice retrospective cases can take longer where enforcement is already involved.
Fees
Retrospective applications are subject to the standard planning application fee scale. Figures change periodically and are set nationally, so check the current fee before applying rather than relying on a figure here. TBC: link to current fee schedule once confirmed.
How it interacts with enforcement
Submitting a retrospective application does not automatically stop or pause an Enforcement Notice or other enforcement action already under way. If enforcement is already in progress, the timing and sequencing of an application needs specific advice.
If the application is refused
A refusal can be appealed to the Planning Inspectorate, and the council may then consider enforcement action if it hasn't already started. Understanding this risk before applying, not after a refusal, is the point of getting advice early.
General process described reflects the standard Town and Country Planning Act 1990 application procedure. Fee figures and current guidance: TBC, confirm before publishing to clients.
This guide is general information, not advice on your specific case.
Need advice on this? Retrospective Planning PermissionExperience from the other side of enforcement
John Langdown
Founder & Planning Enforcement Specialist
John has personally investigated over 1,000 planning enforcement cases while working for numerous Local Planning Authorities across England, covering residential extensions, changes of use, complex commercial sites and large-scale developments. That means we do not have to guess how a council will interpret evidence or decide whether to act. John has made that exact decision, from that exact seat, over a thousand times.
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