About us

The 'Permitted Development' web site (PD England) is owned and run by the Christopher Hunt Practice ( CHP ) who is an independent planning & Building Design consultancy specialising in Building Design, Development Control and Planning Enforcement.

CHP provide a range of services to help our clients navigate the Planning & Building Control process to realise their development aspirations. This Permitted Development web site is designed to attract potential clients through discussion and information relating to Permitted Development which can form an important and integral part of residential development for the home owner.

CHP can advise you if a development proposal requires planning permission or whether it can be built under the new Permitted development rules introduced on October 1st 2008. If formal Planning Permission is required, CHP can also suggest changes which would make your proposals more acceptable, increasing the likelihood of Planning Consent being granted.

Applying for planning permission or applying for a certificate of Lawful Development can be a complex process and it is often easier appointing an agent to submit the application on your behalf. CHP will produce the necessary drawings, specifications & supporting information for a planning application, including a Design and Access Statement justifying your proposal where applicable. CHP will progress the application, negotiate with the Local Planning Authority and deal swiftly with any problems that may arise.

If a planning application is refused or you are not happy with any conditions imposed, an appeal can be made to the Planning Inspectorate. However, this rarely happens with CHP controlled designs. A negotiated route to secure Planning Approval is usually preferable to any appeal. Around 1/3 of appeals succeed and CHP will ensure that your case is effectively made to the Planning Inspectorate.

CHP is run by an experienced Architectural Technologist who is a member of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists and has extensive and wide ranging experience gained in Local Authority Planning & Building Control Departments.

At CHP mostly everything is done by personal attention (site visits & meetings), by post, e-mail, fax and phone. We work fast, meet deadlines and guarantee that our advice is independent and given in good faith. We believe in long-term relationships with our clients and offer a very professional service with real help and comprehensive guidance.

We are competitively priced, we're friendly and give you a simple promise ~ that you'll get a friendly, honest, reliable and supportive service from the moment you get in touch.

QUOTE: "The perfect bureaucrat everywhere is the man who manages to make no decisions and escape all responsibility."

CHP History:

The Christopher Hunt Practice (CHP) is owned by Christopher Hunt as a sole trader. The practice was formed in about 1980 offering Architectural Services to the public & the trade on a part time basis.

In the mid eighties, Christopher Hunt left the Planning Dept. of Wycombe District Council to become fully self employed & to concentrate on the expanding business.

The Practice expanded in the late eighties to a small family team of 3 Technicians. In 1992 the Practice consolidated due to the recession & is again run by Christopher Hunt as a sole trader with contract assistance from his father (also an Architectural Technician) at peak times. CHP is a successful Practice due to the variety of design work undertaken & is capable of absorbing most development trends.

Christopher Hunt is a qualified Architectural Technologist & is a full corporate member of C.I.A.T (The Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists). Christopher will give a 'no nonsense' approach to design advice & has a reputation for being blunt & 'telling it like it is'. Christopher is prepared to lose a commission from a client for stating his honest opinion on design & Planning matters rather than to offer false hope on a dubious project. CHP has built a very substantial client base over the last 25 years which has proved to be invaluable in maintaining demand for Architectural Services without the need for any major advertising. Christopher sincerely believes that client satisfaction & offering best value is the key for continued business success.

The common mis-used term for a person offering Architectural services is an 'Architect'. CHP is not an Architect as this term is protected by Royal Charter but he is a fully qualified Architectural Technologist. Our professional body C.I.A.T. (formerly BIAT) actively promotes self employed Architectural Technologists/Technicians in private practice. We have a strict code of conduct & must maintain a high degree of professionalism & professional indemnity insurance.

Over the years, CHP has dealt with a diverse & varied range of buildings, extensions, conversions & rehabilitations. From the simplest porch to listed barn conversions; loft conversions; swimming pool complexes; single storey to 3 storey extensions; new houses from single plots to select developments; domestic & commercial etc. have all been catered for by CHP.

Download documents and diagrams of useful

Permitted Development information