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Assumption: we are not listed, and not in a conservation area for this thread. I am beginning to muse on building a studio bungalow, and I was thinking about what I should actually tell Planners at the Detailed Application stage - I think my preference is a conversation with the Duty Planner then straight to a full application. I hvae chatted about this before, but this is an example of the concept. Now, the previous thread pointed out that Planners are concerned with (my summary) Public Realm / Environment and mainly appearance / context, while Building Standards are concerned with "Will it work technically and meet performance standards?". Bearing in mind that somebody on here had an issue when he had to change his front door to a new model and the planners started flapping, my question is how much do we actually need to tell them? Consider, for example, a window in a wall of my theoretical new bungalow. If I choose a wall finish that is a light coloured render, I do not see why the planners need to know what sort of render it is or whether it is white, off white or light grey, pale yellow, periwinkle or coral. In theory istm that they should just need to know the tint not the hue. If my window is going to be a dark finish (say dark grey aluclad timber) I do not see why the Planner needs to know the particular manufacturer, or model, or precise material. Is it any skin off a planners nose whether the dark grey is aluminium, dark paint or plastic? Nor do I see that they need to know the u value, or whether it is 2G or 3G. What is it reasonable not to tell them, and what can we get away with leaving out of a Detailed Application? Very general questions, but fellow cud-chewers are welcome. Ferdinand

I'm quite possibly out of my depth on this one, but the latest version of the General Permitted Development Order seems significantly to extend the definition of "Public Highway" to things that were previously private roads etc, and therefore brings more projects within the scope of Planning etc under "fronting a public highway". I picked this up from a thread on Gardenlaw where a Council has decided that Planning Permission is necessary for a front dormer window overlooking a private road on private land that was not thought previously (by the Council! in writing) to be a Highway. The thread is here: http://www.gardenlaw.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=20055 Quoting two relevant bits: http://www.gardenlaw.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=196575#p196575 and this: http://www.gardenlaw.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=196630#p196630 Some of us renovate on private lanes and paths, so this could be significant. Can anyone comment, or have the time to explore this a little? Gardenlaw's resident Planning guru, Pilman, was reduced to "probably". You need to read the thread. Thanks Ferdinand