4 year rule - Build without planning?????

[IceBoy]

Hi All,

I was shocked to hear my friend telling me that he could build an "out building" without any planning permission and then if he occupied the said "out building" for 4 years, he could apply for it to get some sort of certificate of lawfulness or usage as a separate dwelling?

Is he mad? I thought that was the very reason we had planning laws and planning permission?

IceBoy

[IceBoy]

Yes, he mentioned permitted development which I think I understand but what I think he is saying he can do is just build something smallish, like a 2 bedroom bungalow and if nobody notices, which I'm not sure is possible!!!!!! He can get this certificate and it will become a separate dwelling.

This is nuts.

Iceboy