The question of when and if Planning Permission is needed for exterior work depends upon a lot of different factors but in most cases the answer is No . The following is a guide to when wall rendering or wall coating may need permission but as rules are frequently changing we encourage you to check with your local Council if in any kind of doubt at all :

When Planning Permission is not needed for render or wall coating

1. When replacing an exterior render or renewing a painted finish with the same like for like materials

2. If not in a conservation area and your home is not listed then you can render or wall coat your walls whether or not they are currently rendered or painted

When Planning May be Needed

1. Grade 2 listed and above even if replacing like for like

2. If you are rendering onto a boundary wall and the new fin ish technically encroaches into the neighbours  or Local Authority’s space eg a terrace front or any wall fronting onto a public path way

3. If your home is in a conservation arewa or an area of outstanding natural beauty.

When Planning Must be Obtained

1. Adding a new finish to any Listed property or one in a Conservation area etc

2. Building Regs need to be applied for under Part L1B if you are applying an insulation render system to a solid wall for the first time

3. If you are rendering a brick solid wall and are not fitting an insulation system as required under the Regs but are seeking an exemption for technical or aesthetic reasons

IF HAVING A NEW WALL COATING OR RENDERING AN OUTSIDE WALL ESPECIALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME THEN PLEASE CHECK WITH BUILDING CONTROL IF IN THE SLIGHTEST DOUBT ABOUT PLANNING PERMISSION.

The Building Regs 2010 Section Part L1B deals with solid wall homes and the legal obligation to include insulation when carrying out work on external walls.

This has led to a lot of confusion amongst home-owners and sad to say, certain ill-informed builders and wall coating companies so the summary below should be helpful.

Rendering Exterior Walls

If your home has cavity walls that are insulated or has a wide enough cavity to be injected then you can re-render without using an external insulation system. Similarly, if your home is brick or stone then again you can have the walls rendered – be that tyrolean,pebble dash, stucco or flat cement render – without insulating and without informing Building Control.

HOWEVER, if your walls are of  solid construction or have a cavity too narrow to inject then you cannot apply any wall rendering or cladding  without first applying to Building Control on a Building Notice.

Unless you are in a conservation area or are a listed property then the odds are very strong that the Building Inspector will insist you  have to add a thermal insulation layer  to your walls before any rendering is applied.

For more information on whether you fall under Building Regs L1B and what this entails call one of our advisors now on 0500 300407 or alternatively click external wall insulation  

Masonry Wall Paints & Wall Coatings

On solid wall homes for purely decorative finishes that involve only a thin coating of masonry paint, and perhaps some very minor repairs to any damaged rendering, there is no need to comply with the Building Regs or inform Building Control.

This is because masonry paints are not classed as adding an additional layer to the wall as they are so thin and add no measurable insulation value to the wall.

BE VERY CAREFUL though if any wall coating company suggest removing an existing poor render or adding a base render for the first time eg on a brick property. In either of these events you must inform Building Control and will probably have to use insulated rendering

For repairs to damaged render the rules are if at least 50% of any single wall needs repairs before the masonry coat is applied you must use an insulated render and abide by Building Regs.

Part L1B  – Who is responsible for complying ?

Since an amendment to the rules in October 2010 the builder/installer now has primary responsibility for meeting the Regulations and the home-owner will only be pursued as a secondary measure if the builder etc cannot be traced. Previously the home-owner had sole responsibility but now the Builder and also the architect has to take responsibility.

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