Devon
A large and diverse county in South West England, with two coastlines, Dartmoor and Exmoor national parks, and picturesque villages.
Planning Permission in Devon
Planning permission for self-build homes in Devon is obtained from eight district planning authorities or, for sites within national park boundaries, from the Dartmoor or Exmoor National Park Authority. The relevant authority for any specific site can be confirmed on the Planning Portal's local authority finder.
Devon County Council's planning pages focus on county-level matters including minerals and waste planning, and are not the appropriate starting point for a residential self-build application. However, the county council's Devon Design Guide - an ambitious document produced in collaboration with all the Devon planning authorities - is the primary design reference for residential development across the county. The Devon Design Guide sets out a comprehensive framework for sustainable, high-quality design that responds to Devon's varied landscapes, building traditions and communities.
South Hams District Council's planning pages provide access to its adopted Local Plan (2016-2031) and its development management policies. Policy DEV20 (Place-making, Amenity and Design) is the primary design policy, requiring development to be of high quality and to make a positive contribution to local identity and character. The council's planning portal includes a validation checklist setting out the documents required to support a full planning application for a new dwelling.
Teignbridge District Council, covering the area around Newton Abbot and the Teign estuary, has an adopted Local Plan (2013-2033) that includes policies specifically addressing self-build and custom housebuilding. The council's custom build register has recorded growing demand, and allocated housing sites in the district include provisions for self-build plots. Teignbridge's design policies reflect the varied character of its settlements, from the coastal town of Dawlish to the historic market town of Ashburton on the Dartmoor fringe.
Community Infrastructure Levy is operated by several Devon district councils. East Devon District Council and Exeter City Council both have CIL charging schedules in place. Other districts may rely on S106 obligations. All qualifying self-builders are entitled to the CIL self-build exemption where CIL is charged, provided the exemption claim is submitted before development commences. Devon applicants should check the CIL position with the relevant district council before committing to a site.
Dartmoor National Park Authority's planning service processes applications within the national park under the framework of the Dartmoor Local Plan. The authority's pre-application advice service is particularly recommended given the complexity of the national park's policy environment. Pre-application discussions can save significant time and cost by identifying the key planning considerations before design work is invested.
Validation requirements across Devon's planning authorities are broadly similar but vary in detail. Standard requirements include a completed application form, location and site plans, a design and access statement referencing the Devon Design Guide, and the statutory fee. Site-specific additional requirements may include a heritage impact assessment, flood risk assessment, ecological survey, contaminated land assessment, transport statement, and a landscape and visual impact assessment for sites in the AONB, national park or open countryside.
The planning fee for a new dwelling is the national statutory rate, currently £578 per dwelling. Pre-application advice fees vary by authority and by the scale and complexity of the scheme. Most Devon planning authorities publish their pre-application fees on their planning portals.
Devon County Council's planning pages focus on county-level matters including minerals and waste planning, and are not the appropriate starting point for a residential self-build application. However, the county council's Devon Design Guide - an ambitious document produced in collaboration with all the Devon planning authorities - is the primary design reference for residential development across the county. The Devon Design Guide sets out a comprehensive framework for sustainable, high-quality design that responds to Devon's varied landscapes, building traditions and communities.
South Hams District Council's planning pages provide access to its adopted Local Plan (2016-2031) and its development management policies. Policy DEV20 (Place-making, Amenity and Design) is the primary design policy, requiring development to be of high quality and to make a positive contribution to local identity and character. The council's planning portal includes a validation checklist setting out the documents required to support a full planning application for a new dwelling.
Teignbridge District Council, covering the area around Newton Abbot and the Teign estuary, has an adopted Local Plan (2013-2033) that includes policies specifically addressing self-build and custom housebuilding. The council's custom build register has recorded growing demand, and allocated housing sites in the district include provisions for self-build plots. Teignbridge's design policies reflect the varied character of its settlements, from the coastal town of Dawlish to the historic market town of Ashburton on the Dartmoor fringe.
Community Infrastructure Levy is operated by several Devon district councils. East Devon District Council and Exeter City Council both have CIL charging schedules in place. Other districts may rely on S106 obligations. All qualifying self-builders are entitled to the CIL self-build exemption where CIL is charged, provided the exemption claim is submitted before development commences. Devon applicants should check the CIL position with the relevant district council before committing to a site.
Dartmoor National Park Authority's planning service processes applications within the national park under the framework of the Dartmoor Local Plan. The authority's pre-application advice service is particularly recommended given the complexity of the national park's policy environment. Pre-application discussions can save significant time and cost by identifying the key planning considerations before design work is invested.
Validation requirements across Devon's planning authorities are broadly similar but vary in detail. Standard requirements include a completed application form, location and site plans, a design and access statement referencing the Devon Design Guide, and the statutory fee. Site-specific additional requirements may include a heritage impact assessment, flood risk assessment, ecological survey, contaminated land assessment, transport statement, and a landscape and visual impact assessment for sites in the AONB, national park or open countryside.
The planning fee for a new dwelling is the national statutory rate, currently £578 per dwelling. Pre-application advice fees vary by authority and by the scale and complexity of the scheme. Most Devon planning authorities publish their pre-application fees on their planning portals.
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