Guide
Local authority approvals for new businesses
How to navigate local council departments when setting up business premises. Covers planning permission, building control, environmental health, licensing, and business rates, including the order in which to approach each department.
When you set up a business in physical premises, you may need approvals from several local council departments. Each department handles different requirements, and some approvals take longer than others. Getting the sequence right avoids delays and wasted costs.
This guide explains which council departments to contact, what each one covers, and the order in which to approach them.
Recommended order of contact
Approach council departments in this order to avoid doing work that later proves unnecessary.
Business rates and relief
Business rates apply to most non-domestic properties. The amount you pay depends on your property's rateable value, set by the Valuation Office Agency. Several relief schemes may reduce what you owe.
What if you need multiple approvals
Many businesses need approvals from more than one department. A restaurant, for example, may need planning permission for change of use, food business registration, a premises licence for alcohol, and a business rates account.
Some councils offer a single point of contact for new businesses. Ask your council's economic development team whether they provide a pre-application advisory service. This can save considerable time by coordinating across departments.
If an application is refused, you can usually appeal. Planning refusals go to the Planning Inspectorate. Licensing refusals can be appealed to the Magistrates' Court within 21 days.