Prior Approval in
Eastleigh
A full planning application isn’t always the fastest way to get building work started in Eastleigh. 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 Eastleigh
Prior approval covers several genuinely distinct project types in Eastleigh, 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 Eastleigh 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 Eastleigh 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 Eastleigh
Every Eastleigh 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.
Eastleigh’s planning team works to a strict timescale on prior approval, so we stay engaged throughout to make sure nothing slips through unanswered.
The Careful Approach To Eastleigh Prior Approval
Every Eastleigh project gets weighed against the actual legal conditions for prior approval, never assumed just because it sounds like it might qualify.
Prior approval’s speed only helps if the submission’s actually right the first time, so we focus on getting the Eastleigh classification and conditions correct upfront.
If your Eastleigh project’s actually a full extension beyond what prior approval covers, we’ll say so honestly and handle it as a proper planning application instead.
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 Eastleigh
Which categories does prior approval cover in Eastleigh?
The main categories in Eastleigh 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.
What’s the statutory deadline for Eastleigh prior approval?
It depends on the category, 42 days is common for extensions, with 56 days applying to several other prior approval types, Eastleigh’s council must work to whichever deadline genuinely applies.
Can Eastleigh’s council refuse prior approval for any reason they like?
No, Eastleigh’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 Eastleigh project doesn’t actually qualify for prior approval?
Yes, if your Eastleigh 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.
How does Class MA relate to change of use for Eastleigh properties?
Yes, Class MA is genuinely a change of use route, covering Class E commercial buildings converting to residential in Eastleigh, worth reading alongside our change of use planning permission.
Is checking eligibility for prior approval free in Eastleigh?
There’s no charge for the initial Eastleigh eligibility check, you’ll know exactly which route applies before committing to anything further.