Certificate of Lawfulness
A certificate of lawfulness is formal confirmation that a use or development is lawful for planning purposes. It can cover something that already exists. It can also cover work you plan to carry out. You may hear it called a lawful development certificate, or LDC. Shape can help you choose the right route and prepare your application.
Which type of certificate of lawfulness do you need?
Existing use or development. This covers a use or works already in place. For example, you may need to show that the work did not need permission. You may instead need evidence that the enforcement time limit has passed. People sometimes call this a CLEUD.
Proposed use or development. This covers something you plan to do. For instance, you might want confirmation that an extension meets permitted development rules before you start. People sometimes call this a CLOPUD.
What evidence will you need?
The Council decides on the facts and the law, not on the planning merits. So clear plans and accurate information matter. For proposed works, we check your plans against the relevant permitted development rights. For existing development, we help you gather and present evidence of what happened and when.
To start, send us your property address and a short description of the use or works. Then share any plans, dated records and earlier planning decisions you hold. We can spot gaps and tell you what else you need. Enforcement time limits changed in England in April 2024, so we check which rules apply to you.
How Shape can help
We advise whether a certificate suits your project. Then we prepare your application and supporting statement and submit them to the Council. After that, we liaise with the planning department. If the Council refuses your application, we explain your appeal options. You can read more on our planning appeals page.
Why apply for a certificate of lawfulness?
A certificate can give useful evidence when you sell, refinance or let a property. However, it covers only the use or works it describes. It does not replace other approvals, such as Building Regulations or listed building consent. Also, changes to the law or to permitted development rights before your work starts can affect its status.
Our home extensions page explains how permitted development works for houses. For more detail, read the GOV.UK guidance on lawful development certificates (https://www NULL.gov NULL.uk/guidance/lawful-development-certificates).
Tell us about your property
Need a certificate for existing works or a new proposal? Send us your property address and a brief description. We can help you understand the next steps.
Email info@shapeplanning.co.uk (info null@null shapeplanning NULL.co NULL.uk) or use the form below.
We send you a fee proposal before we start work, so you know where you stand on cost.