Planning Permission in Chiltern
Non-Metropolitan District in South East England · Last updated April 2026
Chiltern was replaced by Buckinghamshire in 2020 as part of local government reorganisation. Planning applications in this area are now handled by Buckinghamshire.
View Buckinghamshire planning authority pageChiltern was a non-metropolitan district council in Buckinghamshire, covering a distinctive area in the heart of the Chiltern Hills, one of England's Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The district was characterised by attractive villages, historic market towns, and rolling countryside. In 2020, Chiltern was abolished and merged with Aylesbury Vale, South Bucks, and Wycombe to form the new Buckinghamshire unitary authority.
During its operation, Chiltern processed all applications for new buildings, extensions, and material changes of use across the district. The area contains 992 listed buildings — including grade I and grade II* properties in historic towns such as Amersham, Chesham, and Beaconsfield — reflecting the rich architectural heritage of the Chiltern Hills. Green Belt covers a substantial portion of the district, imposing strong constraints on new development.
If you own a property in the former Chiltern district, all planning enquiries and applications are now handled by Buckinghamshire Council. The planning policies applicable to your area are set out in the Buckinghamshire Local Plan, along with any retained policies from the Chiltern Local Plan that remain in force. Pre-application advice is available from Buckinghamshire's planning team.
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What can I build in Chiltern?
| Project type | Likely permitted development | May need planning permission | Likely needs planning permission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rear extension (single storey) | Most of former Chiltern outside Green Belt — within standard size limits | Properties within 2m of boundary where extension exceeds 3m depth (prior approval needed) | Green Belt properties where impact on openness is disproportionate; listed buildings |
| Rear extension (two storey) | Unlikely — requires planning permission in most cases | Rarely available under PD for rear extensions beyond ground floor | Most two-storey rear extensions; listed buildings; Green Belt properties |
| Loft conversion (no dormer) | Most properties in former Chiltern — within 40/50m³ volume limit | Conversions approaching volume limit | Listed buildings; volume already used by previous conversions |
| Loft conversion (with dormer) | Rear dormers within 40/50m³ limit, not on principal elevation | Side dormers in some cases | Listed buildings; front dormers visible from road; volume exceeded |
| Outbuilding / garden office | Residential gardens not in Green Belt — within 50% plot coverage and 4m height | Larger outbuildings near boundaries | Outbuildings in Green Belt exceeding permitted limits; listed building curtilages |
| Garage conversion | Most properties where no exterior alterations change the building's appearance | Where permitted development for retention is uncertain | Listed buildings; where original planning consent required retention of garage |
This is general guidance based on Chiltern's planning constraints. Your specific property may differ — use our free PD checker to get a result tailored to your address.
Permitted development in Chiltern
Permitted development rights in the former Chiltern area follow national rules, with Green Belt restrictions affecting a significant proportion of the district. Outside the Green Belt, standard PD rights apply to extensions, outbuildings, loft conversions, and other common householder works — subject to the usual size and design limits. In the Green Belt, extensions and outbuildings are still possible under PD rights but must not have a disproportionate impact on the openness of the Green Belt. Given the 992 listed buildings in the former Chiltern district, owners of listed properties must obtain listed building consent for any works that affect the character of the building, regardless of whether planning permission is required. All permitted development queries for properties in the former Chiltern area should now be directed to Buckinghamshire Council.
What Chiltern expects from your project
The Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty imposes a strong landscape character on much of the former district. Development proposals were expected to use traditional Chiltern materials — flint, brick, and tile — and to respect the rural character of the surrounding area. These design expectations continue under Buckinghamshire Council's planning policies for the area.
Local Plan: Chiltern District Local Plan
Chiltern District Council was dissolved in April 2020 and merged with Aylesbury Vale, South Bucks and Wycombe districts to form the new Buckinghamshire Council unitary authority. The former Chiltern Local Plan (adopted 2011) remains part of the development plan for the area, covering the heavily wooded Chiltern Hills AONB.
Emerging / replacement plan
Buckinghamshire Council (the successor authority) is preparing a new Local Plan covering the whole county. A Regulation 18 consultation ran in 2021–2022 and a Regulation 19 Pre-Submission plan is anticipated in 2025.
Article 4 directions in Chiltern
Article 4 direction data for Chiltern has not yet been published to the national planning data platform. This does not mean there are no Article 4 directions in this area. Contact Chiltern's planning department directly or use our free PD checker to check whether your property is affected.
Listed buildings in Chiltern
There are 992 listed buildings in Chiltern. If your property is listed, permitted development rights are significantly restricted. Most external and many internal alterations will require listed building consent, which is separate from planning permission. Always check with Chiltern's conservation team before starting any work on a listed property.
Planning application statistics
Year ending March 2020 (final year of operation) | Source: MHCLG planning application statistics
Chiltern received 621 planning applications and decided 584 in the year ending September 2025. The approval rate of 87.4% is above the national average of 86.9%. Major applications are expected to be decided within 13 weeks, while householder and other non-major applications have an 8-week target. The “in time” figures include decisions made within agreed extensions of time.
During its final years of operation, Chiltern maintained a high approval rate for planning applications and strong performance on householder decisions. Planning functions are now delivered by Buckinghamshire Council.
If your project complies with permitted development rules, you don't need to worry about approval rates — a Lawful Development Certificate is a factual assessment, not a judgment call.
Recent planning applications in Chiltern
Browse what's been approved near you
Seeing what similar projects have been approved near your property can help you understand what Chiltern expects in terms of scale, materials, and design. It's also useful for gauging how quickly the council processes applications.
Search planning applications on Chiltern's portal →Data from MHCLG planning application register. Search for householder applications (H01/H02) to see extensions and loft conversions in your area.
Housing delivery in Chiltern
Housing Delivery Test 2019 measurement | Source: MHCLG
Chiltern delivered 771 homes against a requirement of 847 over the three-year measurement period, giving a Housing Delivery Test score of 91%. This is below the 95% threshold, which means Chiltern must publish an action plan setting out how it intends to increase housing delivery. For homeowners, this is a positive signal — the council is under pressure to approve more housing, which can make planning officers more receptive to well-designed residential applications and extensions that add living space.
Lawful Development Certificates in Chiltern
A Lawful Development Certificate (LDC) is formal confirmation from Chiltern that your project is lawful under permitted development rules. It is not legally required before you build, but it is the only official document that proves your project did not need planning permission. Most solicitors will ask for one when you come to sell, remortgage, or insure your property.
Chiltern decided 347 householder applications in the year ending march 2020 (final year of operation). Their 8-week performance of 91.2% is below the national average of 93%, so LDC applications may take longer than the 8-week target. LDC applications follow the same 8-week statutory determination period as householder planning applications.
How to apply for an LDC in Chiltern
You can apply for a Lawful Development Certificate through the Planning Portal or directly through Chiltern's website. You will need to submit:
- A completed application form (available on the Planning Portal)
- A site location plan at 1:1250 or 1:2500 scale
- Existing and proposed floor plans and elevations
- A written description of the proposed works and how they comply with the GPDO 2015
- The application fee of £258
Chiltern must issue a decision within 8 weeks. If the application is approved, the certificate is a permanent legal record that the development is lawful. If refused, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate or amend your project and reapply.
Need help preparing your LDC application?
Our Permitted Development Certificate Report gives you a full PD eligibility assessment, property constraints check, and application checklist tailored to your address and project — so you can apply with confidence.
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Approval rates, decision patterns, Article 4 directions, fees & timelines, and council-specific tips for Chiltern.
Pre-application advice in Chiltern
Chiltern offers a pre-application advice service. The fee for householder pre-app advice is From £96 for householder proposals. You can typically expect a response within 28 working days.
Pre-app advice is worth paying for if your project is borderline, your property is in a conservation area, or your home is a listed building.
Think your project might be permitted development?
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Check your PD rights now →Pre-application advice for properties in the former Chiltern area is provided by Buckinghamshire Council. The service covers householder, minor, and major proposals and provides a written assessment against current policy.
Planning fees and timelines in Chiltern
| Application type | Fee | Typical timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Householder planning permission | £528 | 8-week determination target for minor works; 13 weeks for major. Applications for former Chiltern area submitted to Buckinghamshire Council. |
| Lawful Development Certificate (proposed) | £264 | 8-week target. Confirms a proposed development is lawful without full planning permission. |
| Lawful Development Certificate (existing) | £298 | 8-week target. Confirms existing development or use is lawful. |
| Listed building consent | £0 | 8-week target. Required for works affecting the character of any of the 992 listed buildings in the former Chiltern area. |
| Prior approval | £120 | 42-day determination period for eligible prior approval applications. |
| Discharge of conditions | £145 per request | 8-week target for discharging pre-commencement planning conditions. |
Fees are set nationally and correct as of April 2026. Pre-application fees are set by Chiltern and may change. Building regulations fees are separate — see the building control section below.
Building regulations in Chiltern
Building regulations approval is separate from planning permission. Most extensions, loft conversions, and structural alterations need building regs approval even if they don't need planning permission.
Building control in Chiltern is provided by Buckinghamshire Council Building Control. Building control functions for the former Chiltern district are now provided by Buckinghamshire Council. Approved private inspectors are also available as an alternative to the council service. You can also use a private approved inspector instead of the council's service.
Contact Buckinghamshire Council building control for a fee quotation based on your project type and scale.
Chiltern planning department
Your building project checklist for Chiltern
- Check if your property is in a conservation area — Use our free checker to find out.
- Check for Article 4 directions at your address — Check your address for any restrictions.
- Check if your property is listed — search the Historic England list.
- Use our free PD checker to see if your project qualifies as permitted development — Check now.
- Consider a Lawful Development Certificate if PD applies — it protects you when selling. Learn more about LDCs or get your PD Certificate Report.
- Consider pre-application advice if planning permission is needed — see the pre-application section above.
- Check building regulations — most extensions and loft conversions need building regs approval even if they don't need planning permission.
- Check Party Wall Act obligations if building near a boundary — read our Party Wall guide or use our free Party Wall tool.
- Notify your home insurer about planned building work.
- Get at least 3 quotes from builders and check their credentials.
Nearby planning authorities
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