Rutland
England's smallest county, a hidden gem in the East Midlands, centred around Rutland Water and the charming market towns of Oakham and Uppingham.
Planning Permission in Rutland
Planning permission in Rutland is obtained from Rutland Council, the unitary authority for England's smallest county. The council's planning pages provide access to its planning portal, adopted Local Development Framework policies, validation requirements and pre-application advice service.
Rutland Council's adopted planning policies are contained in its Core Strategy (2011) and its Site Allocations and Policies Development Plan Document (2014). The council is in the process of preparing a new Local Plan to replace these documents. In the interim, the adopted Core Strategy and Site Allocations policies - together with the National Planning Policy Framework - form the primary policy basis for planning decisions.
Policy CS21 (Design) is the primary design policy in the Rutland Core Strategy, requiring all development to be of high quality and to make a positive contribution to local character. Given Rutland's exceptionally consistent ironstone and limestone vernacular, the council's design expectations are clear: new buildings should use local materials, should respect the scale and massing of surrounding buildings, and should contribute positively to the distinctive character of the county's settlement pattern.
Community Infrastructure Levy in Rutland is charged at rates set out in the council's adopted CIL charging schedule. The self-build exemption is available for qualifying applicants who intend to occupy the completed home as their principal residence for at least three years. The exemption claim must be submitted and approved before development commences. Rutland Council's planning service can advise on the current CIL rate and the exemption procedure.
Given the county's small size and the limited number of planning applications processed each year, Rutland's planning service is able to provide a relatively personalised pre-application advice service. Officers are familiar with the character of individual villages and can provide tailored guidance on the design expectations for specific locations. Self-builders are strongly encouraged to engage this service before committing to a design approach, as the specific character requirements for Rutland's villages vary subtly from one settlement to another.
Validation requirements for planning applications in Rutland include a completed application form, location and site plans, a design and access statement, and the statutory fee. Additional site-specific requirements include a heritage impact assessment for sites near Rutland's exceptional concentration of medieval churches and listed buildings, an ecological survey where the site has proximity to Rutland Water or other protected habitats, and a flood risk assessment for sites near the Rivers Gwash, Chater or Eye.
Section 106 obligations in Rutland address affordable housing, open space, education and transport. The affordable housing threshold is typically lower in Rutland than in larger authorities, reflecting the county's small scale and the difficulty of cross-subsidising affordable housing on small sites.
Rutland Council's adopted planning policies are contained in its Core Strategy (2011) and its Site Allocations and Policies Development Plan Document (2014). The council is in the process of preparing a new Local Plan to replace these documents. In the interim, the adopted Core Strategy and Site Allocations policies - together with the National Planning Policy Framework - form the primary policy basis for planning decisions.
Policy CS21 (Design) is the primary design policy in the Rutland Core Strategy, requiring all development to be of high quality and to make a positive contribution to local character. Given Rutland's exceptionally consistent ironstone and limestone vernacular, the council's design expectations are clear: new buildings should use local materials, should respect the scale and massing of surrounding buildings, and should contribute positively to the distinctive character of the county's settlement pattern.
Community Infrastructure Levy in Rutland is charged at rates set out in the council's adopted CIL charging schedule. The self-build exemption is available for qualifying applicants who intend to occupy the completed home as their principal residence for at least three years. The exemption claim must be submitted and approved before development commences. Rutland Council's planning service can advise on the current CIL rate and the exemption procedure.
Given the county's small size and the limited number of planning applications processed each year, Rutland's planning service is able to provide a relatively personalised pre-application advice service. Officers are familiar with the character of individual villages and can provide tailored guidance on the design expectations for specific locations. Self-builders are strongly encouraged to engage this service before committing to a design approach, as the specific character requirements for Rutland's villages vary subtly from one settlement to another.
Validation requirements for planning applications in Rutland include a completed application form, location and site plans, a design and access statement, and the statutory fee. Additional site-specific requirements include a heritage impact assessment for sites near Rutland's exceptional concentration of medieval churches and listed buildings, an ecological survey where the site has proximity to Rutland Water or other protected habitats, and a flood risk assessment for sites near the Rivers Gwash, Chater or Eye.
Section 106 obligations in Rutland address affordable housing, open space, education and transport. The affordable housing threshold is typically lower in Rutland than in larger authorities, reflecting the county's small scale and the difficulty of cross-subsidising affordable housing on small sites.
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