Many types of new development need planning permission from the local council before building work can be carried out or the use of a property changed. In these cases, a planning application must be made to the local council describing what the new development will involve and where it will take place. Some types of work are exempt and it would be advisable to check with your local authority to detemine what approvals are necessary.

The local authorities development control/ planning department concern themselves with such matters as the design of the proposed building, its size in relation to your existing house, remaining garden ground, daylight, privacy, off street parking, vehicular access, and the affects the proposals may have on the surrounding area and neighbours.

Prior to submitting your application, the owner of the land affected by the development proposal (if not owned by the applicant) needs to be notified. From 3 August 2009 the local authority is now responsible for neighbour notification.

You can submit a planning application electronically through the Scottish Planning Online website. This is provided by the Scottish Government and allows you to submit planning application through the website to councils throughout Scotland. It also provides advice and guidance on the submission of planning applications.

The planning authority must form a decision on most applications within two months from the date of receipt of the application. If a decision has not been made within the prescribed period, and the applicant has not come to an agreement with the planning authority for an extension to the decision making period, the application it is deemed as to be automatically refused, and the applicant would then have the right to appeal to the Scottish Ministers.