Prior Approval in
Durham
A full planning application isn’t always the fastest way to get building work started in Durham. Prior approval covers a specific set of projects, larger extensions, certain change of use conversions, demolition, with the council legally required to decide within a set number of days rather than the usual open-ended timeline.
Get StartedWhat Prior Approval Actually Covers In Durham
Prior approval covers several genuinely distinct project types in Durham, each with its own specific conditions. A larger single-storey rear extension, beyond what standard permitted development allows, typically gets a 42-day decision. Converting a commercial building to residential use under Class MA follows the same fast track. Agricultural buildings converting to residential under Class Q, demolition of a building, and larger extensions to industrial or warehouse buildings all use this route too, some with a 56-day deadline instead.
What makes prior approval different from a standard Durham application isn’t just speed, it’s scope. The council can only assess specific, defined matters set out in the relevant legislation, not the full range of planning considerations a normal application invites.
Confirming eligibility properly comes first for any Durham 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 Durham
Durham cases start with genuine eligibility checking, not an assumption the project qualifies, before any submission work begins.
What follows is prepared specifically for the prior approval process, addressing the defined matters Durham’s council actually assesses under this route.
Once submitted, we track the statutory deadline for your Durham project closely, since missing council communication near that date can genuinely matter.
Getting Durham Prior Approval Right The First Time
Every Durham project gets weighed against the actual legal conditions for prior approval, never assumed just because it sounds like it might qualify.
A rushed or wrongly classified Durham submission loses the whole benefit of this faster route, so accuracy matters as much as speed here.
Prior approval genuinely doesn’t fit every Durham project, and we’d rather steer you toward the right route from the start than force a poor fit.
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 Durham
What projects actually qualify for prior approval in Durham?
The main categories in Durham 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 Durham?
Typically 42 days for larger extensions, or 56 days for several of the other categories, a legal deadline that applies once Durham’s council has a valid submission in hand.
Can Durham’s council refuse prior approval for any reason they like?
No, Durham’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.
Can I still get planning permission if prior approval isn’t right for my project?
Yes, if your Durham project doesn’t meet prior approval conditions, we simply prepare it as a standard planning application instead, the route changes but the project can usually still proceed.
Does Class MA prior approval also count as change of use in Durham?
Class MA is specifically about change of use for Durham properties, converting shops, offices, and similar commercial space to residential, a category we also cover in more depth on our change of use planning permission.
Is checking eligibility for prior approval free in Durham?
Yes, confirming whether your Durham project genuinely qualifies costs nothing, that comes before any discussion of fees for preparing the actual submission.