Planning Permission in Trafford
Metropolitan District in North West · Last updated April 2026
Trafford is a metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, stretching from the urban areas of Old Trafford and Stretford through the suburban towns of Sale, Urmston, and Altrincham to the affluent villages of Bowdon, Hale, and Hale Barns and the rural parish of Dunham Massey in the south. The borough is home to iconic landmarks including Old Trafford football stadium, Lancashire Cricket Club, and the Trafford Centre. Trafford has 22 conservation areas, 264 listed buildings (including 6 Grade I), and significant Green Belt land in the south and west.
Trafford's development plan comprises Places for Everyone (adopted March 2024), the Core Strategy (adopted January 2012), and saved UDP policies. A new Local Plan is being prepared — Regulation 18 consultations on draft policies (April-June 2025) and site allocations (September-November 2025) have been completed, with Regulation 19 expected in 2026. Trafford has a borough-wide HMO Article 4 direction (confirmed March 2018) and conservation area Article 4 directions at Linotype and The Downs. The Altrincham Town Centre Neighbourhood Business Plan (adopted 2017) forms part of the development plan.
Trafford is the only Greater Manchester borough to levy CIL — with hot, moderate, and cold charging zones (residential rates from £20 to £80/sqm at 2014 base rates, indexed annually). Major regeneration is underway: the Old Trafford Regeneration MDC (launched January 2026) covers 370 acres targeting 15,000+ homes and 90,000 jobs; New Carrington (PfE allocation JPA30) is a major mixed-use site on 1,665 acres; and Trafford Waters offers 3,000 homes on 53 acres. Trafford's approval rate is 85.7% and the Housing Delivery Test score is 78% (buffer consequence).
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What can I build in Trafford?
| 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 (4), 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 (4), listed buildings |
| Side extension | Detached houses outside protected zones | Semi-detached properties (half-width rule) | Conservation areas (22), Article 4 zones (4), listed buildings |
| Loft conversion (dormer) | Only outside conservation and Article 4 areas | Properties on prominent corners or in Article 4 areas (Borough-wide HMO Article 4 Direction, Linotype Conservation Area Article 4 Direction) | Conservation areas (e.g. Goose Green, Ashley Heath, Barton Upon Irwell), listed buildings, flats |
| Loft conversion (Velux/rooflight) | Most of Trafford 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 Trafford (internal works) | If changing external appearance significantly | Listed buildings |
This is general guidance based on Trafford's planning constraints. Your specific property may differ — use our free PD checker to get a result tailored to your address.
Permitted development in Trafford
Permitted development rights in Trafford follow the national GPDO but are restricted by a borough-wide HMO Article 4 direction (confirmed March 2018, removing C3 to C4 PD rights), conservation area Article 4 directions at Linotype and The Downs, and a 2024 demolition Article 4 direction. PD rights are restricted in all 22 conservation areas, with the affluent south (Bowdon, Hale, Hale Barns) having extensive coverage. The Green Belt in southern and western Trafford imposes additional constraints. Trafford's 264 listed buildings (6 Grade I, 10 Grade II*, 248 Grade II) always require listed building consent. Trafford is the only GM borough with CIL — developers must factor in CIL charges when planning extensions or new development.
What Trafford expects from your project
Trafford's built environment ranges from the dense urban areas of Old Trafford, Stretford, and Urmston through leafy Victorian/Edwardian suburbs in Sale, Timperley, and Altrincham to the affluent residential areas of Bowdon, Hale, and Hale Barns with their large detached houses and tree-lined streets. Dunham Massey in the south retains its rural character. The Old Trafford Regeneration MDC (launched January 2026, chaired by Lord Coe) will transform 370 acres around the football stadium — targeting 15,000+ homes and 90,000 jobs with a new Foster + Partners stadium. Trafford Waters (53 acres, 3,000 homes, 100,000+ sqft amenity) is creating a new waterfront quarter. New Carrington (PfE allocation, 1,665 acres) will deliver a major mixed-use development on the former petrochemical plant site. Altrincham town centre is widely cited as a nationally significant regeneration success story. The Trafford Design Code (SPD 7, adopted September 2024) covers distinct character areas across the borough.
Local Plan: Trafford Core Strategy
The Trafford Core Strategy was adopted in January 2012, supplemented by the Land Allocations Plan (adopted 2014). The plan period has now expired. Trafford forms part of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and is undertaking a new Local Plan to address housing and other pressures.
Emerging / replacement plan
Trafford is preparing a new Local Plan. A Regulation 18 Issues and Options consultation ran in 2022, and a Regulation 19 Pre-Submission Plan consultation took place in 2024.
22 conservation areas
Trafford 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.
Conservation areas in Trafford
22 designated conservation areas
Trafford has 22 conservation areas reflecting the borough's diverse character. Bowdon, The Devisdale, The Downs, and South Hale protect the affluent Victorian and Edwardian residential areas of south Trafford. Linotype is a unique planned workers' housing estate built 1897-1901 by The Linotype & Machinery Company (protected by Article 4 direction). Dunham Town and Dunham Woodhouses are rural villages near the National Trust's Dunham Massey estate. Warburton contains St Werburgh's Church (Grade I, one of England's oldest timber-framed churches). Empress in Old Trafford is on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register. Notable Grade I buildings include three structures at Dunham Massey (Hall, Stables, Carriage House), Royd House in Hale (designed by Edgar Wood, 1914-16, bridging Arts and Crafts with modernism), St Werburgh's Church in Warburton, and All Saints' Church in Urmston (E.W. Pugin, 1868).
Article 4 directions in Trafford
4 Article 4 direction areas
Listed buildings in Trafford
There are 264 listed buildings in Trafford. 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 Trafford's conservation team before starting any work on a listed property.
Planning application statistics
Year ending September 2025 | Source: MHCLG planning application statistics
Trafford received 1,557 planning applications and decided 1,467 in the year ending September 2025. The approval rate of 85.7% is below 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.
Trafford's Housing Delivery Test score of 78% (2023 measurement) means a 20% buffer applies and an action plan is required. The borough delivered 2,415 homes against a requirement of 3,105. The approval rate is 85.7%, with 93.8% of major applications and 94.1% of householder applications decided on time. The delegation rate is 97.4%. Trafford is the only GM borough to levy CIL (adopted March 2014, in effect July 2014) with three charging zones: Cold (Old Trafford, Carrington, Partington — £20/sqm houses), Moderate (Sale, Stretford, Trafford Park, Urmston — £40/sqm houses), and Hot (Altrincham, Bowdon, Hale, Hale Barns, Dunham Massey — £80/sqm houses, £65/sqm apartments). Supermarkets outside town centres are charged £225/sqm. Rates are indexed annually using the BCIS All-in Tender Price Index.
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 Trafford
Browse what's been approved near you
Seeing what similar projects have been approved near your property can help you understand what Trafford expects in terms of scale, materials, and design. It's also useful for gauging how quickly the council processes applications.
Search planning applications on Trafford'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 Trafford
Housing Delivery Test 2023 measurement | Source: MHCLG
Trafford delivered 2,415 homes against a requirement of 3,105 over the three-year measurement period, giving a Housing Delivery Test score of 78%. This is below the 85% threshold, which means Trafford must apply a 20% buffer when calculating its five-year housing land supply. This makes it harder for the council to demonstrate it has enough land allocated for housing, and if it cannot, planning policy carries less weight and the balance shifts in favour of granting permission. For homeowners, this can mean a more favourable climate for planning applications that involve new dwellings, such as building in your garden or converting outbuildings.
Lawful Development Certificates in Trafford
A Lawful Development Certificate (LDC) is formal confirmation from Trafford 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.
Trafford decided 1,015 householder applications in the year ending september 2025. Their 8-week performance of 94.1% is above the national average of 93%, which suggests LDC applications are likely to be processed on time. LDC applications follow the same 8-week statutory determination period as householder planning applications.
How to apply for an LDC in Trafford
You can apply for a Lawful Development Certificate through the Planning Portal or directly through Trafford'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
Trafford 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 Trafford.
Pre-application advice in Trafford
Trafford offers a pre-application advice service. The fee for householder pre-app advice is Householder pre-application advice: £250 (including VAT). Covers extensions, conservatories, garages, outbuildings, roof works, access, hardstanding, walls, and fencing. Non-householder fees vary — contact the team.. You can typically expect a response within Written advice within 42 days of receipt of all information.
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.
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Check your PD rights now →Householder advice covers policy compliance, likely acceptability of scale/massing/design, impact on street scene and neighbours, heritage impacts, parking/access considerations, and likely conditions. The subsequent planning application fee is payable separately.
Planning fees and timelines in Trafford
| Application type | Fee | Typical timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Householder planning permission | £528 | 8-week determination target. Trafford's on-time rate is 94.1% for householder applications. |
| Lawful Development Certificate (proposed) | £264 | Confirms proposed works are PD. Important given Trafford's HMO Article 4 direction and conservation area Article 4s. |
| Lawful Development Certificate (existing) | £298 | Confirms existing works or use are lawful. Useful when selling property with undocumented alterations. |
| Listed building consent | Free | Required for any works affecting listed building character. Trafford has 264 listed buildings including 6 Grade I. |
| Prior approval (larger home extension) | £120 | For single-storey rear extensions up to 6m (semi/terrace) or 8m (detached). 42-day determination. |
| Discharge of conditions | £145 per request | Required before commencing work subject to planning conditions. CIL may also apply — check the charging schedule. |
| Non-material amendment | £44 | For minor changes to an approved scheme that do not materially alter the development. |
| Full planning permission (no new dwellings) | £548 | For development not involving creation of new dwelling units. 8-week target. |
Fees are set nationally and correct as of April 2026. Pre-application fees are set by Trafford and may change. Building regulations fees are separate — see the building control section below.
Building regulations in Trafford
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 Trafford is provided by Trafford Building Control Services. You can use Trafford Council's in-house building control service or appoint a private Registered Building Control Approver. Contact the team for fee confirmation before submitting payment. Online payments available via Civica eStore. You can also use a private approved inspector instead of the council's service.
Fees available on application. For same-day site inspections, contact must be made by telephone before 9:30am.
Trafford planning department
Your building project checklist for Trafford
- Check if your property is in a conservation area — Trafford has 22 conservation areas. Use our free checker or see the list above.
- Check for Article 4 directions at your address — Trafford has 4 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
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