What is planning permission and when do you actually need it? This jargon-free guide explains what you need to know

Basement room with staircase with sheet glass bannister, glass door to the garden, wooden flooring and large dining table with chairs.

If you've got some significant home improvements on your wish list, then you may find yourself having to navigate the world of planning permission for the first time.

While there is lots you can do to your home without planning permission under what is known as Permitted Development, depending on the scale of your proposed changes and where you live, you might need to get approval from your local planning authority before you begin work.