Planning Permission in Gateshead
Metropolitan District in North East · Last updated April 2026
Gateshead is a metropolitan borough in the North East of England, facing Newcastle upon Tyne across the River Tyne. The borough stretches from the iconic Quayside — home to the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, and the Glasshouse International Centre for Music (formerly Sage Gateshead) — through suburban neighbourhoods to the rural south and west.
Planning policy is set by a joint Core Strategy and Urban Core Plan (CSUCP) with Newcastle, adopted in March 2015, supplemented by the Making Spaces for Growing Places (MSGP) plan adopted in February 2021. A new joint Local Plan with Newcastle was launched in February 2025. Gateshead charges CIL on residential development (base rate £60/sqm, indexed to approximately £83/sqm in 2025).
The borough has 22 conservation areas, 247 listed buildings (9 Grade I), and significant Green Belt covering the south and west. The Angel of the North, Antony Gormley's 20-metre sculpture seen by over 33 million people annually, is one of the most recognisable landmarks in England. Pre-application advice for householder proposals costs just £56.
Planning a project in Gateshead? Start here.
Enter your address to check your permitted development rights, conservation area status, and Article 4 restrictions specific to Gateshead.
Free check — no account required
What can I build in Gateshead?
| Project type | Likely permitted development | May need planning permission | Likely needs planning permission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rear extension (single storey) | Only outside conservation areas and Article 4 zones | Properties near boundaries or Green Belt fringe areas | Conservation areas (22), Article 4 zones (1), listed buildings |
| Rear extension (two storey) | Only outside conservation and Article 4 areas | Check distance to boundary ≥7m or Green Belt fringe areas | Conservation areas (22), Article 4 zones (1), listed buildings |
| Side extension | Detached houses outside protected zones | Semi-detached properties (half-width rule) | Conservation areas (22), Article 4 zones (1), listed buildings |
| Loft conversion (dormer) | Only outside conservation and Article 4 areas | Properties on prominent corners or in Article 4 areas (Saltwell Conservation Area) | Conservation areas (e.g. Axwell Park, Birtley, Blaydon), listed buildings, flats |
| Loft conversion (Velux/rooflight) | Most of Gateshead outside conservation areas | Front-facing rooflights in conservation areas | Listed buildings, Article 4 areas |
| Outbuilding / garden office | Only outside conservation areas and Article 4 zones, if within size/height limits | Large outbuildings covering >50% of garden | Conservation areas (side or front), listed buildings, Green Belt |
| Porch | Most properties if within 3m² and 3m height | Properties in Article 4 areas or near highway boundary | Conservation areas with restrictions, listed buildings |
| Solar panels | Most properties (roof-mounted) | Panels protruding beyond roofline | Listed buildings, conservation areas (if visible from road) |
| Driveway / hard standing | If using permeable surfacing | Non-permeable surfacing over 5m² | Conservation areas with specific restrictions |
| Garage conversion | Most of Gateshead (internal works) | If changing external appearance significantly | Listed buildings |
This is general guidance based on Gateshead's planning constraints. Your specific property may differ — use our free PD checker to get a result tailored to your address.
Permitted development in Gateshead
Permitted development rights in Gateshead broadly follow national standards under the General Permitted Development Order. However, five Article 4 directions in the Saltwell Conservation Area (in force since January 2011) remove PD rights for extensions, roof and wall alterations, replacement windows and doors, boundary treatments, and hardsurfacing. In all 22 conservation areas, additional restrictions apply to demolition, cladding, satellite dishes, and roof alterations. Properties within the Green Belt face stricter controls on extensions and new buildings. Gateshead charges CIL at a base rate of £60/sqm (indexed, approximately £83/sqm in 2025) on residential development over 100 square metres or any new dwellings.
What Gateshead expects from your project
Design guidance is provided through the Householder Alterations and Extensions SPD, the Gateshead Placemaking SPD, and the Residential Design Code. The Gateshead Quays Development Framework guides major development along the iconic waterfront. The MetroGreen masterplan (former MetroCentre car park area) plans for 974 homes and 275,000 sq ft of leisure space. Key landmarks include the Angel of the North (1998, Antony Gormley, not listed but its setting is a material planning consideration), the BALTIC (converted flour mill, opened 2002), and the Glasshouse (Foster + Partners, renamed September 2023). The Exemplar Neighbourhood SPD was adopted in 2023 for new residential development standards.
Local Plan: Gateshead Core Strategy and Urban Core Plan 2010–2030
Gateshead Metropolitan Borough adopted its Core Strategy and Urban Core Plan jointly with Newcastle City Council in March 2015. The plan covers the Tyne and Wear Urban Core, supporting regeneration at Gateshead Quays (including the Sage and Baltic), TeamValley employment area and significant housing growth in the Gateshead waterfront.
Emerging / replacement plan
Gateshead is working with Newcastle on a new joint local plan. A Regulation 18 consultation is anticipated in 2025 as part of the North East Combined Authority spatial planning framework.
22 conservation areas
Gateshead has a high number of conservation areas. Check whether your property falls within one before starting any work — conservation area status significantly restricts what you can do without planning permission.
90.9% approval rate
Gateshead approves 90.9% of planning applications, above the national average of 86.9%. Well-designed residential applications in this area tend to have a good chance of success.
Conservation areas in Gateshead
22 designated conservation areas
Gateshead's 22 conservation areas cover diverse settings from the industrial heritage of the Bridges area (including the iconic Tyne Bridge and Millennium Bridge) to the rural charm of Clara Vale and Marley Hill. The Saltwell conservation area around Saltwell Park is the most heavily protected, with five Article 4 directions in force. Gibside, a National Trust estate in the Derwent Valley, includes the Grade I listed Palladian Chapel (1760–1812) and is a registered historic park and garden. Bowes Railway is a scheduled monument and one of the world's first railways, designed by George Stephenson in 1826. Character statements and adopted strategies are available for 14 of the 22 conservation areas.
Article 4 directions in Gateshead
1 Article 4 direction area
Listed buildings in Gateshead
There are 247 listed buildings in Gateshead. 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 Gateshead's conservation team before starting any work on a listed property.
Planning application statistics
Year ending September 2025 | Source: MHCLG planning application statistics
Gateshead received 517 planning applications and decided 460 in the year ending September 2025. The approval rate of 90.9% 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.
Gateshead's planning service processes around 517 applications per year, with a 90.9% approval rate above the national average. Major applications achieve 100% on-time performance. However, householder applications at 86% on time are below the national average of 93%. The delegation rate is 95.4%. The Housing Delivery Test score of 96% (1,121 homes delivered against 1,173 required) means the council is slightly below target but faces no presumption consequences. A Housing Delivery Test Action Plan has been published to address delivery. The borough has no made neighbourhood plans; Lamesley is the only parish council. The Tyne and Wear Building Control partnership covers Gateshead jointly with Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, and Sunderland.
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 Gateshead
Browse what's been approved near you
Seeing what similar projects have been approved near your property can help you understand what Gateshead expects in terms of scale, materials, and design. It's also useful for gauging how quickly the council processes applications.
Search planning applications on Gateshead'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 Gateshead
Housing Delivery Test 2023 measurement | Source: MHCLG
Gateshead delivered 1,121 homes against a requirement of 1,173 over the three-year measurement period, giving a Housing Delivery Test score of 96%. This is above the 95% threshold, which means there are no government-imposed consequences for housing under-delivery. Planning applications in Gateshead are assessed on their own merits under standard planning policies.
Lawful Development Certificates in Gateshead
A Lawful Development Certificate (LDC) is formal confirmation from Gateshead 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.
Gateshead decided 265 householder applications in the year ending september 2025. Their 8-week performance of 86% 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 Gateshead
You can apply for a Lawful Development Certificate through the Planning Portal or directly through Gateshead'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
Gateshead 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.
Check your permitted development rights
Find out instantly whether your project in Gateshead needs planning permission.
FROM £39Permitted Development Certificate Report
Get a comprehensive report for your Lawful Development Certificate application.
£49Gateshead Local Authority Report
Approval rates, decision patterns, Article 4 directions, fees & timelines, and council-specific tips for Gateshead.
Pre-application advice in Gateshead
Gateshead offers a pre-application advice service. The fee for householder pre-app advice is Householder: £56 inc. VAT. Reduced to £30 if following a permitted development enquiry that confirms planning permission is needed. Minor residential (1-9 homes): £200.. You can typically expect a response within 40 working days (householder); 20 working days (minor residential 1-9 homes).
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?
Check in 2 minutes with our free tool — no sign-up needed.
Check your PD rights now →Online submission only via the council website. The council does not accept pre-application enquiries by phone or email. Payment by debit or credit card upfront. A second enquiry with a revised scheme within 3 months is charged at half the original fee. The advice given is the informal opinion of an officer and is not binding on any subsequent formal application.
Planning fees and timelines in Gateshead
| Application type | Fee | Typical timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Householder planning application | £528 | Single dwelling alterations or extensions (national fee from April 2025) |
| Lawful Development Certificate (proposed) | £264 | Confirm proposed works are permitted development |
| Lawful Development Certificate (existing) | £298 | Confirm existing works were lawful |
| Listed building consent | £0 | No fee for listed building consent applications |
| Prior approval (larger home extension) | £120 | Single-storey rear extensions beyond PD limits |
| Discharge of conditions (householder) | £145 | Per request to discharge conditions |
| Non-material amendment (householder) | £44 | Minor changes to approved plans |
| Pre-application advice (householder) | £56 | Online submission only. £30 if following a PD enquiry. 40 working day turnaround. |
Fees are set nationally and correct as of April 2026. Pre-application fees are set by Gateshead and may change. Building regulations fees are separate — see the building control section below.
Building regulations in Gateshead
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 Gateshead is provided by Gateshead Building Control (part of Tyne and Wear Building Control partnership). You can use Gateshead Council's Local Authority Building Control (LABC) service or a private Registered Building Control Approver. Gateshead is part of the Tyne and Wear Building Control partnership covering five councils (Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland). The council offers Full Plans, Building Notices, Regularisation, and Demolition Notices. You can also use a private approved inspector instead of the council's service.
Building control contact
Fees depend on the type and scale of work. Contact the team for a quote. Online applications available via the council website.
Gateshead planning department
Your building project checklist for Gateshead
- Check if your property is in a conservation area — Gateshead has 22 conservation areas. Use our free checker or see the list above.
- Check for Article 4 directions at your address — Gateshead has 1 Article 4 areas. Check your address.
- 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
Stay informed about planning in Gateshead
Approval rate updates, Article 4 changes, and local planning tips — straight to your inbox.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.