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GPDOGPDO Article 3
The General Permitted Development Order (GPDO) is divided into ten Articles. Four of these Articles are then expanded further. These expanded areas are called Schedules. These are then in turn split into a number of Parts. Finally these Parts are divided into Classes within Schedule 2. This is Article 3. That is probably as clear as mud!
But please do read on as to what Article 3 does, as it is the backbone of all PD rights.
Below is a full list of all articles within the GPDO:-
Articles
1. Citation, commencement and application
2. Interpretation
3. Permitted development
4. Directions restricting permitted development
5. Directions restricting certain minerals permitted development
6. Directions: general
7. Prior approval applications: time periods for decision
7ZA. Prior approval applications: modified procedure in relation to call-in of applications
7A. Review
8. Revocations and saving
Many people will have heard about Article 4 – Article 4 allows for blocks against permitted development rights. Article 3 in effect gives you permitted development rights.
This is further expanded in Schedule 2 Parts 1, 2, 3, 4 to 20 – Schedule 2 is the meat on bones for the GPDO – it is that Schedule that gives us all the various parts and then in turn classes which give each PD right.
However Article 3 does specify some cases where PD rights would not apply in any circumstances.
This article states that if the construction of that building was illegal, then permitted development rights do not apply. Therefore the building must be lawful first. Article 2 defined ‘building’ to include any part of a building. Therefore if say part of a house was not built in accordance with plans, you cannot benefit from PD rights on that element. Article 3 also restricts PD rights on. new build by default, until it is substantially complete, by virtue of Article (5) as the building will not have yet been constructed in accordance with the plans approved.
Note that the use of the building must also be lawful for PD rights.
Article 3 also states that no construction can take place under permitted development that might cause an obstruction to users of a highway used by vehicular traffic. This could include bikes, horses as well as cars, busses and lorries etc. This might impact the erection of a fence or a wall for example. Or it might be an outbuilding or other structure.
Article 3 does not allow for the demolition of any building except in Classes B & C of Part 11 – however importantly this does not include part of buildings.
It also blocks any new dwelling under permitted development which is less than 37 square metres or doesn’t comply with national space standards.
Most forms of development which require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) are exempt from permitted development rights.
Article 3 – Permitted Development – Legislation
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Order and regulations 75 to 78 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (general development orders), planning permission is hereby granted for the classes of development described as permitted development in Schedule 2.
(2) Any permission granted by paragraph (1) is subject to any relevant exception, limitation or condition specified in Schedule 2.
(3) References in this Order to permission granted by Schedule 2 or by any Part, Class or paragraph of that Schedule are references to the permission granted by this article in relation to development described in that Schedule or that provision of that Schedule.
(4) Nothing in this Order permits development contrary to any condition imposed by any planning permission granted or deemed to be granted under Part 3 or Part 13 of the Act otherwise than by this Order.
(5) The permission granted by Schedule 2 does not apply if—
(a) in the case of permission granted in connection with an existing building, the building operations involved in the construction of that building are unlawful;
(b) in the case of permission granted in connection with an existing use, that use is unlawful.
(6) The permission granted by Schedule 2 does not, except in relation to development permitted by Classes A, B, D and E of Part 9 and Class A of Part 18 of that Schedule, authorise any development which requires or involves the formation, laying out or material widening of a means of access to an existing highway which is a trunk road or classified road, or creates an obstruction to the view of persons using any highway used by vehicular traffic, so as to be likely to cause danger to such persons.
(7) Any development falling within Class A of Part 18 of Schedule 2 authorised by an Act or order subject to the grant of any consent or approval is not to be treated for the purposes of this Order as authorised unless and until that consent or approval is obtained, except where the Act was passed or the order made after 1st July 1948 and it contains provision to the contrary.
(8) Schedule 2 does not grant permission for the laying or construction of a notifiable pipe-line, except in the case of the laying or construction of a notifiable pipe-line by a gas transporter in accordance with Class A of Part 15 of that Schedule.
(9) Except as provided in Classes B and C of Part 11, Schedule 2 does not permit any development which requires or involves the demolition of a building, but in this paragraph “building” does not include part of a building.
(9A) Schedule 2 does not grant permission for, or authorise any development of, any new dwellinghouse—
(a) where the gross internal floor area is less than 37 square metres in size; or
(b) that does not comply with the nationally described space standard issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government on 27th March 2015.
(9B) The reference in paragraph (9A) to the nationally described space standard is to that standard read together with the notes dated 19th May 2016 which apply to it.
(10) Subject to paragraph (12), Schedule 1 development or Schedule 2 development within the meaning of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 (“the EIA Regulations”) is not permitted by this Order unless—
(a) the local planning authority has adopted a screening opinion under regulation 6 of those Regulations that the development is not EIA development within the meaning of those Regulations;
(b) the Secretary of State has made a screening direction under regulation 5(3) of those Regulations that the development is not EIA development within the meaning of those Regulations; or
(c) the Secretary of State has given a direction under regulation 63(1) of those Regulations that the development is exempted from the application of those Regulations.
(11) Where—
(a) the local planning authority has adopted a screening opinion under regulation 6 of the EIA Regulations that development is EIA development within the meaning of those Regulations and the Secretary of State has in relation to that development neither made a screening direction to the contrary under regulation 5(3) of those Regulations nor directed under regulation 63(1) of those Regulations that the development is exempted from the application of those Regulations; or
(b) the Secretary of State has directed that development is EIA development within the
meaning of those Regulations,
that development is treated, for the purposes of paragraph (10), as development which is not permitted by this Order.
(12) Paragraph (10) does not apply to—
(a) development which consists of the carrying out by a drainage body, within the meaning of the Land Drainage Act 1991, of improvement works within the meaning of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Land Drainage Improvement Works) Regulations 1999;
(b) development for which permission is granted by Class E of Part 6, Class K of Part 7, Class B of Part 12, Class A(a) of Part 15, Class D, E or I of Part 17 or Class A of Part 18 of Schedule 2;
(c) development for which permission is granted by Class F, H or K of Part 17 of Schedule 2 where the land in, on or under which the development is to be carried out is—
(i) in the case of Class F of Part 17, on the same authorised site,
(ii) in the case of Class H of Part 17, on the same premises or, as the case may be, the same ancillary mining land,
(iii) in the case of Class K of Part 17, on the same land or, as the case may be, on land adjoining that land,
as that in, on or under which development of any description permitted by the same Class has been carried out before 14th March 1999;
(d) the completion of any development begun before 14th March 1999;
(e) development for which permission is granted by Class B of Part 9 of Schedule 2.
(13) Where a person uses electronic communications for making any application required to be made under any of Part of Schedule 2, that person is taken to have agreed—
(a) to the use of electronic communications for all purposes relating to that person’s application which are capable of being effected using such communications;
(b) that the address for the purpose of such communications is the address incorporated into, or otherwise logically associated with, that person’s application, and
(c) that the deemed agreement under this paragraph subsists until that person gives notice in writing revoking the agreement (and such revocation is final and takes effect on a date specified by the person but not less than 7 days after the date on which the notice is given).
Original legislation is found here.
Page Updated: 22nd April 2025