If you’re planning to refurbish your office, one of the first questions you might have is whether you need planning permission.
The answer is: not always.
For many office refurbishments, particularly where the work is entirely internal, planning permission may not be required. But it depends on the building, the extent of the work and whether you’re changing how the property is used.
Here are some of the main things to consider before your project gets underway.
When might you not need planning permission?
If you’re just updating the inside of an existing office and keeping the building in the same use, planning permission is often not required.
This could include work such as:
- Reconfiguring the office layout
- Installing new partitions or meeting rooms
- Replacing flooring and finishes
- Updating furniture
- Redecorating
- Improving lighting
- Creating breakout and collaboration spaces
Internal alterations generally don’t fall within the definition of ‘development’ for planning purposes. However, there can be exceptions, so it’s always worth checking the specifics of your project before work begins.
What if we're making external changes?
This is where planning permission is more likely to come into the conversation.
If your refurbishment includes significant alterations to the outside of the building, such as an extension or changes that materially affect its external appearance, planning permission may be required.
Even seemingly small changes can sometimes need approval depending on the building and its location, so these should be considered early in the design process.
What about changing the use of the building?
If your project also involves changing what the building is used for, there may be additional planning requirements.
Properties in England are grouped into different planning Use Classes. Some changes within the same Use Class don't require planning permission, while moving from one use to another may require planning permission or prior approval.
For example, taking on an existing office and refurbishing it as an office is very different from converting a building previously used for another purpose.
This is something worth establishing before you commit to a property or begin designing the space.
Listed buildings and conservation areas
If your office is within a listed building, you'll need to take extra care.
Works that affect the character of a listed building can require Listed Building Consent, and this can apply to internal as well as external alterations.
Buildings within conservation areas can also be subject to additional restrictions, particularly when external changes are involved.
If either applies to your property, it's important to understand the requirements at the very beginning of the project rather than discovering them once work is already underway
Don't forget about Building Regulations
Planning permission and Building Regulations are two separate things.
Even if your refurbishment doesn't require planning permission, elements of the project may still need to comply with Building Regulations.
Depending on the work involved, this could cover areas such as fire safety, accessibility, ventilation, electrical works and energy efficiency.
This is why compliance needs to be considered as part of the wider design and build process, rather than simply asking whether planning permission is required.
Check before you start
Every commercial refurbishment is different.
A straightforward internal refresh may have very few planning considerations, while a larger project involving structural alterations, external works or a change of use can be more complex.
The best approach is to establish what permissions and approvals are required early. Your local planning authority can confirm whether planning permission is needed for a particular project.
At Oaktree Interiors, we help clients navigate the whole refurbishment process, from the initial design and planning stages through to the finished space.
Planning an office refurbishment?
Get in touch with our team to discuss your project and how we can help.