A Planning Guide to Working From Home

10
Planning, Health and
Environment Division
A Planning
Guide to
Working
From Home
What is meant by Working From
Home?
For many people including those with a
disability or family responsibilities requiring
them to be at home, home based work can
often be the only way of earning a
livelihood. For others it can be a matter of
convenience, a preferred lifestyle or a way
of initially starting up a business.
Government guidelines encourage people
to work from home as long as this does not
cause unacceptable harm to the amenity of
the area or more importantly immediate
neighbours.
Do I need Planning Permission?
You may not need Planning Permission to
work from home. The key test is whether
the overall character of your house will
materially change as a result of your
business use.
Some of the criteria to be considered
are highlighted in this guide.
If you have any doubts as to whether
your business needs planning
permission please contact this
department first.
w Will your home still be used mainly
as a private residence.
If you are using more than one room in
association with any business this may
indicate a change of use. If you are only
using one room it is advisable that this room
should also remain capable of use for its
original purpose eg. dining room/bedroom.
w Will your business result in a
marked rise in traffic movements, or
do visitors or customers need to
attend your house in connection with
your business?
If your business involves deliveries or
collections by large vehicles on a regular
basis or customers have to come to your
property, this is likely to indicate a change of
use.
Additional traffic movements and parking
problems will usually cause concern to
neighbours and are the most common
source of complaint to the Council about any
business from home.
w Will your business need employees
to come to the property?
Home based working is usually taken to
mean that only the people living at the
property are involved in the business. If any
employees do not reside at the premises it
is likely that a change of use has occurred.
Again, employees are likely to cause
parking problems and increased traffic
movements.
w Will your business generate any noise
or smells. Will you work antisocial hours.
Will your business affect the external
appearance of the property?
If your business involves any of these you are
likely to be affecting the amenity of neighbours
and if your business involves storage of goods
or working outside the property it will affect the
amenity of a wider area. You will therefore
require Planning Permission.
w What activities are usually acceptable
in a residential property?
Child minding - where no more than six children
are involved.
Lodging/bed and breakfast - dependant on the
number of rooms involved.
Office - where this involves minimal equipment
(computer/desk/filling cabinets etc.) Trades
such as plumbers, electricians may be able to
store a minimal amount of goods.
Light assembly/craft work - where this involves
small items and hand held tools.
Provision of services - such as telesales,
networking,
computing, legal. Where no
outside staff are required and any customers are
minimal and by appointment only.
w What activities are usually unacceptable
in a residential property:
Day Nursery
Medical Services
Car Sales
Car repairs/servicing
Building Contractors (where goods are
being stored externally)
Boarding/Breeding Kennels
Joinery/metal work
Wholesale storage
The above are guidelines only - each case is
considered on it’s own merits and against the
potential to effect the amenity of the area or
neighbours.
Even if your business use appears to meet the
planning criteria, you may still be open to
action through the Environmental Health
legislation if there is evidence that your activity
is causing a statutory nuisance. If this is found
to be the case you will clearly need planning
permission.
What happens if the Council receives
complaints about a business use of my
home?
You will be contacted by the Enforcement
Officer. Although the complainant has the right
to confidentiality at this stage, you will be
made aware of the main concerns.
If appropriate you will be invited to submit a
planning application or adjust your working
practices. If your business is such that it is
normally unacceptable in residential areas you
will be advised this may not be granted and
that you should seek alternative premises.
The worst case scenario is that you will be
served with an Enforcement Notice requiring
the business use of your property to cease.
You will have the right to appeal
against such a Notice.
Further Information
For further information and advice on Working
from Home or any other Enforcement matter
you can contact us in the following ways:
Visiting:
Monday - Friday
9.00am - 4.30pm
Planning, Health and Environment Division
Enforcement Section, Duke House,
Clensmore Street, Kidderminster,
Worcs. DY10 2JX
Tel:
01562 732506
Fax
01562 732556
Writing To:
Planning, Health and Environment Division
Enforcement Section, Duke House,
Clensmore Street, Kidderminster,
Worcs. DY10 2JX
E-mail:[email protected].
This leaflet is available
in alternative print
on request
Planning, Health and
Environment Division