In article ,
Christian McArdle wrote:
You can apply for planning permission before buying the property.
You need the permission of the current owner

You can apply for PP for any piece of land without the consent of the
current owner: in a case I know of a local amenity society put in
their own application for a site to prove that there was a suitable
alternative use (if mere things like finance were ignored). You do
have to serve a notice on the existing owner stating that you have
made the application.

Having said this, if you're the prospective purchaser it makes sense
to get the current owner's support. Also IIRC there is some provision
that lets a LA refuse to entertain a planning application if there is
no possible chance of it being implemented - so there's no point in
applying to turn Buck House into a refugee hostel.

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Tony Bryer SDA UK 'Software to build on' http://www.sda.co.uk
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