Starting a Build

[J0000000001]

We have planning permission and a building warrant for a plot we just purchased in Scotland. The current planning expires in June. We would like to start the build (to keep the planning active and be a fall back if needed) and then submit what we actually want through planning.

 

My question is what constitutes starting the build? We are working through the pre commencement conditions and will submit these. There is a commencement form, which we can submit. What else is needed? We are looking for the bare minimum as we are running out of time and we don't really want to build this unless we can't make Aby changes to the current plans.

 

Thanks for your help

[Russell griffiths]

Talk to your council, some will let you do demolition and that’s classed as a start, some you can put some drains in, some will want full foundations. 
ask them. 

[J0000000001]

Thanks we will try that

[ProDave]

What are your pre comencement conditions?

 

Ours said we must first create the access from the highway before building work starts.

 

So I created the access and the council confirmed in writing that by doing so the development had started.

[saveasteading]

8 hours ago, J0000000001 said:

What else is needed?

Ask thd bco. I know this is planning but they are the same authority in the Scottish process.

 

Once upon a time you could put pegs in the corners and be photographed using a theodolite. Maybe strip the site.

 

Nowadays they tend to want to see some construction.

Eg a hole with concrete in it or a section of drain. Perhaps some services in or modified.

Access as @ProDavecan be good.

Choose something easyish but constructive and suggest it to the bco. They will understand.

 

But do it or there is a genuine chance of losing the permission.

 

[worldwidewebs]

We are in the process of buying a plot in East Lothian that has planning expiring in November. I spoke with the council and they told me the planning permission could be extended. This is what they told me:

 

Whether a renewal application or full planning application, the application should be made and submitted through the Scottish Government planning portal - https://www.eplanning.scot/ePlanningClient/
Guidance notes on how to make an application for renewal of a planning permission or for full planning permission and on the associated fees can be found on the Scottish Government planning portal.

[Alan Ambrose]

I’m guessing that CIL isn’t relevant here, otherwise there’s a CIL gotcha for ‘start one development and then reapply for something else’.

[J0000000001]

On 24/03/2025 at 16:16, ProDave said:

What are your pre comencement conditions?

 

Ours said we must first create the access from the highway before building work starts.

 

So I created the access and the council confirmed in writing that by doing so the development had started.

Thanks for the reply We just need to submit some information about the aesthetics and materials we were going to use for the build. We are thinking of building a trench and sending photographic evidence to the council.
Did you submit pictures of the access? Did they need to visit to confirm? Or did they accept it from the commencement form?

Edited March 31 by J0000000001

[J0000000001]

On 24/03/2025 at 17:03, saveasteading said:

Ask thd bco. I know this is planning but they are the same authority in the Scottish process.

 

Once upon a time you could put pegs in the corners and be photographed using a theodolite. Maybe strip the site.

 

Nowadays they tend to want to see some construction.

Eg a hole with concrete in it or a section of drain. Perhaps some services in or modified.

Access as @ProDavecan be good.

Choose something easyish but constructive and suggest it to the bco. They will understand.

 

But do it or there is a genuine chance of losing the permission.

 

Thanks for the reply. I'm new to this so is BCO the British Council for Offices?
We def intend to do it, we have a couple of months to start the Build.

Thanks

[J0000000001]

On 29/03/2025 at 17:16, worldwidewebs said:

We are in the process of buying a plot in East Lothian that has planning expiring in November. I spoke with the council and they told me the planning permission could be extended. This is what they told me:

 

Whether a renewal application or full planning application, the application should be made and submitted through the Scottish Government planning portal - https://www.eplanning.scot/ePlanningClient/
Guidance notes on how to make an application for renewal of a planning permission or for full planning permission and on the associated fees can be found on the Scottish Government planning portal.

Thanks. The planning was already extended by the previous owner and if we are going to submit a planning application, we'd rather do it for the house we want (instead of someone else's design). Though we def will need the planning portal soon

 

[J0000000001]

On 30/03/2025 at 10:17, Alan Ambrose said:

I’m guessing that CIL isn’t relevant here, otherwise there’s a CIL gotcha for ‘start one development and then reapply for something else’.

Thanks for the reply. I'm new to this, so is CIL community infrastructure levy? If so, it looks like that only applies in England and Wales.

[MR10]

@J0000000001

We notified council planning, after fulfilling all pre-commencement conditions, using the commencement form and they acknowledged via email. We also had to notify building standards of commencement as it was mandated in the CCNP that came with the building warrant. It was the building inspector, named on the CCNP, that we sent photos of the dug trench to.

 

 

 

Edited March 31 by MR10