Prior Approval in
Deal (Kent)
Not every Deal project needs a full planning application, and not every project qualifies for permitted development either. Prior approval sits in between, a faster route with real legal deadlines, for specific categories like larger rear extensions and certain building conversions.
Get StartedThe Statutory Deadline Explained For Deal
Picking the wrong path for a Deal project, treating something as needing full planning permission when prior approval genuinely fits, or vice versa, wastes real time and real money. Nailing the classification early matters more than most people expect.
Each prior approval category in Deal carries its own conditions and its own statutory deadline, generally 42 or 56 days depending on which one applies, with the council’s review confined to specific matters set out in legislation rather than a broad planning assessment.
Confirming eligibility properly comes first for any Deal enquiry, not assuming a project qualifies for prior approval just because it sounds similar to one that does.
Right Route Confirmed
We check prior approval genuinely applies
Statutory Timescale
42 or 56 days, by law
Focused Submission
Built around what’s actually assessed
Fast Turnaround
Applications moved along quickly
How We Help in Deal (Kent)
Every Deal project starts with confirming which prior approval category genuinely applies, and whether the specific conditions attached to that category are actually met.
From there we prepare a focused submission covering exactly what the council’s entitled to assess, nothing padded out with irrelevant detail that slows things down.
Deal’s planning team works to a strict timescale on prior approval, so we stay engaged throughout to make sure nothing slips through unanswered.
Why Deal Projects Get The Classification Checked First
Every Deal project gets weighed against the actual legal conditions for prior approval, never assumed just because it sounds like it might qualify.
We treat the statutory deadline for Deal projects as something to work with properly, not race against carelessly, since a poor submission can still fail even on a fast track.
Where a Deal project sits right on the edge of prior approval eligibility, we lay out the genuine risk plainly before you commit to this route.
Not sure whether your project needs house extension planning permission instead? We check that too, before recommending prior approval as the route.
Get Your Prior Approval Submission Started
Prior Approval FAQs for Deal
What projects actually qualify for prior approval in Deal?
The main categories in Deal are larger rear extensions, Class MA commercial to residential conversion, Class Q agricultural conversion, demolition, and larger industrial or warehouse extensions, each with its own specific conditions.
How long does a prior approval decision take in Deal?
Typically 42 days for larger extensions, or 56 days for several of the other categories, a legal deadline that applies once Deal’s council has a valid submission in hand.
What can the council actually assess under prior approval in Deal?
No, Deal’s planning team can only consider the specific matters defined in the relevant legislation for that category, not the full range of considerations a standard application allows.
What happens if my Deal project doesn’t actually qualify for prior approval?
Absolutely, prior approval not fitting your specific Deal project doesn’t mean the project itself can’t happen, it just means a standard application is the right route.
How does Class MA relate to change of use for Deal properties?
Yes, Class MA is genuinely a change of use route, covering Class E commercial buildings converting to residential in Deal, worth reading alongside our change of use planning permission.
Do I pay anything before you confirm my Deal route?
Yes, confirming whether your Deal project genuinely qualifies costs nothing, that comes before any discussion of fees for preparing the actual submission.