Evy Coe
In most cases, fitting insulation in your home is a permitted development. This means that you shouldn’t need to apply for planning permission before you do the work.
However, you might need planning permission if installing insulation is part of a larger project you’re doing or alters the appearance of your home. You might also need it if your home’s in a conservation area or is a listed building.
Keep reading to find out when you might need to apply for planning permission when you’re fitting insulation.
Common insulation jobs
Planning rules are very location specific. So it’s worth identifying where you’re going to put your insulation before you look into whether you need planning permission.
Loft insulation
Installing new loft insulation or adding to the loft insulation you already have don’t usually require planning permission. Neither does re-roofing your home. But if you’re installing insulation as part of a project that raises or significantly alters your roof then you’ll probably need to apply for planning permission.
External wall insulation
If you’re installing external wall insulation without altering your property’s appearance, you shouldn’t need planning permission. But if you want to change the look of your property, by fitting new cladding for example, then it’s worth contacting your local planning office.
Internal and cavity wall insulation
Installing internal and cavity wall insulation is usually pretty straightforward. Generally, you shouldn’t need planning permission to do this kind of work.
Fitting insulation on Designated Land
Designated Land includes Conservation Areas, National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. These areas often have different planning rules. So if your property is on designated land, a job that might usually be a permitted development might need planning permission.
Planning rules for Designated Land tend to vary according to area. So if you want to do any work on a property on Designated Land, it’s best to get in touch with your local authority for advice.
Fitting insulation in a listed building
If you want to alter or extend a listed building you usually need to apply for listed building consent. This often includes fitting loft, external, internal and cavity wall insulation. So if you want to install insulation in a listed building, it’s best to get advice from your local authority before doing any work.
If you’re still unsure about how planning rules apply to insulation and your home, get in touch with your local authority. You can find out who they are and their contact details here.
