The partial demolition of a building will be ‘development’ (s55 TCPA 1990). It is regarded as a structural alteration, and thus falls within the definition of ‘building operation’. Accordingly, the general rule is that planning permission will be required for the partial demolition of a building.

Aside from the issue of planning permission, it is important to consider whether building regulation consent is needed. The basic rule is that a developer must give six weeks prior notice to the LPA’s building regs department before starting to demolish any part of a building (there are minor exceptions for internal works; buildings with a volume of less than 1750 cu ft; subsidiary buildings such as conservatories; and agricultural buildings).