Planning Permission for modular buildings can get many people confused and frustrated as they do not know what rules apply and which do not. Modular buildings are commonly known as temporary buildings used for events or to expand capacity during peak periods amongst many businesses.
When you are considering a modular building, you must consider the planning permission for your temporary building and take into consideration its purpose and the length of time you plan to have it installed on site. A modular building that is not going to be in place more than 28 days and has a floor space less than 100m2 will not need to apply for Planning Permission, however, we still advise that you get the insight and advice of your local building authority to ensure you are not met with any niggling fines. You can also do this if the building is an extension to an existing building, is shorter in height to the original building, directly relevant to the purpose of the original building and is less than 25% the volume of the original building. If the building is an extension, you may be able to avoid planning permission altogether if it fulfils the criteria, even if it will be in place longer than 28 days.
Planning permission is expensive, which is why modular buildings are often, a commercial expense. They can start at nearly £500 in England and can be upwards of £2000 by the end of the process if you need to include architect plans and you include the cost of all the additional charges to make the planning permission for modular buildings happen.
Once your application is submitted, you can expect to wait between8-12 weeks for a simple application, or longer for one that is more detailed and complex.
