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Certificates of Lawfulness

A Certificate of Lawfulness provides a clear and reliable way to confirm that your development or use of land is lawful. It removes ambiguity, strengthens your planning position and offers total certainty for future decisions, sales or investment.

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Garage conversion was a certificate of lawfulness project

At Salmon Planning, we specialise in assisting clients with applications for Certificates of Lawful Existing Use or Development (CLEUD) and Certificates of Lawfulness of Proposed Use or Development (CLOPUD). Our chartered planning consultants are here to navigate you through this critical process, ensuring clarity and compliance with planning law.  

What are Lawful Development Certificates?

Unlike an application for planning permission, Lawful Development Certificates are not assessed against planning policy or their planning merits.  They are solely determined on documented evidence, planning legislation and case law. 

Under Sections 191 and 192 of The Town and Country Planning Act 1990, any person can apply for either a proposed or existing Lawful Development Certificate to confirm that either an existing or proposed development is lawful. Both types of application are submitted to and determined by your Local Planning Authority and an adverse decision can be challenged at appeal. 

Our Chartered Planning Consultants are here to navigate you through this often useful legal process.

kitchen lawful development

Why should I apply for a Lawful Development Certificate?

A Lawful Development Certificate will provide you with absolute certainty on the lawful status of both land and buildings. This is crucial if you are intending to sell assets or carry out proposed works.  In addition, It offers a strong fall-back consideration in the determination of any subsequent planning applications and will also prevent local planning authorities from taking enforcement action against a development which might otherwise be unlawful.

Why employ a Chartered Planning Consultant?

Lawful Development Certificates are decided against the test of balance of probabilities.  It is the responsibility of the Applicant to demonstrate their case by providing actual evidence. They can also be extremely useful when seeking to apply the correct four- or ten-year immunity rules from enforcement action.

Applying for a Certificate of Lawfulness can be a complex process requiring detailed knowledge of planning law and meticulous preparation of unambiguous evidence, including historical records, aerial photography, plans and preparing Statutory Declarations.

With Salmon Planning + Architecture you gain access to expert guidance and support. This makes the process as straightforward and stress-free as possible.

FAQ

A Certificate of Lawfulness is a formal confirmation issued by the Local Planning Authority that on the date of issuing, the use of the land or development is lawful. It is a valuable document as it can provide leverage for a more complex planning proposal, or simply provide reassurance that the works you proposed do not require planning permission.

An Existing Lawful Development Certificate is also an important document which relates to works already carried out, whereas a Proposed Lawful Development Certificate relates to works proposed in the future.

Permitted Development allows for certain types of works to be carried out without the need for Planning Permission. Planning Permission is required for all other works. A chartered planning consultant will be able to distinguish whether Permitted Development will be appropriate or whether a full planning application is required.

Salmon Planning Reviews

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5.0 rating of 17 reviews

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We had the pleasure of working with Matt and Dan from Salmon planning recently. They dealt with our planning application for a wrap around kitchen extension from idea to submission. They listened and came up with very helpful input. They are a useful mix of knowledgeable, practical and creative. They made the process straightforward, seamless and enjoyable. They dealt with all the laborious paperwork and liaised with other relevant bodies, leaving us to just contribute to the ideas and design. They are both extremely amiable and a pleasure to deal with. The process was affordable and I feel I got great value for money. Use them, you will be pleased you did.

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Shona Perkins

Shona Perkins

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It has been a real pleasure working with Matt and the team at Salmon Planning + Architecture. Throughout the process they have been consistently professional, prompt to respond, and genuinely helpful at every stage. A great team to work with, which I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

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Christopher Davies

Christopher Davies

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Excellent all round service from Nigel and his knowledgeable and experienced team. I have recommended them to many people in the past and will continue to do so in the future as they listen, understand and work with clients to deliver achievable results.

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Alex Keevil

Alex Keevil

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I was very pleased with the services and advice provided by Salmon Planning. I also thought the in-house architecture / drawing service worked well - saving costs, time and generally making things far more efficient. We managed to easily secure consent for something that I thought might be fraught with issues. Nigel is also very well informed on local / Somerset matters. Highly recommend!

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Peter Prescott

Peter Prescott

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I was extremely pleased by the service provided by Dan Foster at Salmon Planning Company. He provided advice in relation to securing planning approval for the conversion of a barn to a residential annexe, leading to a swift and successful outcome. His advice was timely, thorough and well reasoned and his effective communication with the planning authority led to an outcome which would not otherwise have been likely. The support provided proved to be money well spent.

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Paul Wiseman

Paul Wiseman

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The Salmon Planning Team assisted me with an assessment of development potential in the Conservation Area of a rural Oxfordshire village. The advice I received was extremely helpful both in its decisiveness and clarity and backed up by a very useful written report. I would be happy to recommend the company for those looking for a very experienced and professional planning-led team. I wish I had contacted a planning-led architectural firm first off rather than having expensive plans drawn up by an architect and then refused by the Local Authority! It would have been a much cheaper exercise.

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Jane Thomas

Jane Thomas

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I have found Salmon Planning to be a well-run, professional planning company who have always strived to go above and beyond to help their clients achieve their objectives.I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone.

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Aoife Dick

Aoife Dick

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Prompt, professional and client-focused. Would highly recommend Salmon Planning, thank you!

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Dan and the rest of his team at Salmon Planning were consumate professionals, dealing with every aspect of a sensitive, high profile, listed, town centre development, in a conservation area. Always available for every question I had … and I had a lot.I would, without a doubt ,call upon them for any future planning projects and would have no reservation whatsoever in recommending. Unquestionably 5 star - thank you.

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laxback

laxback

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Excellent end-to-end experience and advice for our listed property in Brighton. Would highly recommend

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Richard Dutton

Richard Dutton

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I regularly contact Nigel Salmon for information and advice. He, and his colleagues, are always friendly and rapidly provide excellent advice and services. As a Chartered Surveyor myself, I appreciate the professionalism of this firm.

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Roderick Thomas

Roderick Thomas

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We worked with Dan and Matt at Salmon Planning Company to secure planning permission for a double garage, workshop, and gym/yoga room. From start to finish, they were incredibly professional, knowledgeable, and easy to work with. Their advice on both the planning and design stages was excellent, and they made the whole process smooth and stress-free. Highly recommend their services!

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Simon Banks

Simon Banks

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Salmon Planning have secured planning permission for me for both holiday lodges and a new build pub and restaurant as well as for a new dwelling. The Salmon Planning team’s skill at handling complex planning applications and securing successful outcomes has been excellent. I would happily recommend their planning and architectural design teams.

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Mike

Mike

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I’ve been using Dan Foster and his team for over 2 years now on my property developments, the level of service, support, and professionalism of each member forever seems to impress! They have saved me many times, highlighting (potentially expensive) issues I had missed and always listen to my ideas and questions with great patience . I cannot recommend this company more highly , if you need reliable advice/designs from a team for your projects definitely give Salmon Planning a call. They will tell you everything in black and white and explain all you need to know regarding the complete planning process from start to finish.

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Owen Robinson

Owen Robinson

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