Prior Approval in
Wells
Not every Wells 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 Wells
Picking the wrong path for a Wells 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 Wells 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.
We confirm which category your Wells project genuinely falls under before preparing anything, since submitting the wrong type of application wastes both time and the fee involved.
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 Wells
Wells 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 Wells’s council actually assesses under this route.
Once submitted, we track the statutory deadline for your Wells project closely, since missing council communication near that date can genuinely matter.
Getting Wells Prior Approval Right The First Time
We’d rather confirm honestly that your Wells project doesn’t qualify for prior approval than submit something destined to fail on a technicality.
We treat the statutory deadline for Wells projects as something to work with properly, not race against carelessly, since a poor submission can still fail even on a fast track.
If your Wells 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 Wells
Which categories does prior approval cover in Wells?
Larger single-storey rear extensions beyond standard permitted development limits, office or commercial to residential conversion under Class MA, agricultural to residential conversion under Class Q, demolition, and larger extensions to industrial or warehouse buildings all use this route in Wells.
How long does a prior approval decision take in Wells?
It depends on the category, 42 days is common for extensions, with 56 days applying to several other prior approval types, Wells’s council must work to whichever deadline genuinely applies.
Can Wells’s council refuse prior approval for any reason they like?
The scope is genuinely limited, Wells’s council assesses only the specific defined matters for that prior approval category, unlike a full application’s broader planning assessment.
What happens if my Wells project doesn’t actually qualify for prior approval?
Absolutely, prior approval not fitting your specific Wells project doesn’t mean the project itself can’t happen, it just means a standard application is the right route.
Does Class MA prior approval also count as change of use in Wells?
Class MA is specifically about change of use for Wells 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.
Do I pay anything before you confirm my Wells route?
Yes, confirming whether your Wells project genuinely qualifies costs nothing, that comes before any discussion of fees for preparing the actual submission.