Permitted development rights are a national grant of planning permission which allow certain building works and changes of use to be carried out without having to make a planning application. Permitted development rights are subject to conditions and limitations to control impact and to protect local amenity.
The National Planning Practice Guidance provides a useful introductory overview regarding permitted development rights. Full detail of what is and is not considered permitted development is set out in a piece of legislation known as the General Permitted Development Order (GPDO).
Exceptionally, permitted development rights may have been withdrawn for instance in a Conservation Area or in relation to a quarry or landfill site. In those circumstances, a planning application may be necessary.