Planning Application Expiry Date: How Long Permission Lasts

A planning application expiry date is the deadline by which the permission must usually be started, not a guarantee that the whole project must be finished by that date. The exact rule is the time-limit condition on the decision notice, so read that document before relying on any general answer.

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Most people find expiry dates when an old permission suddenly matters. A neighbour starts work years after approval. A buyer sees a planning record from the previous owner. A developer says a site still has consent. The answer depends on the decision notice, any later variation, and whether the development was lawfully begun in time.

The GOV.UK guidance on use of planning conditions explains that time-limit conditions are part of planning permissions. GOV.UK making an application also explains that outline permissions and reserved matters can carry their own timing rules.

Where To Find The Expiry Date

Open the decision notice. Look for wording such as:

• "The development hereby permitted shall begin not later than..."
• "The development must be begun before the expiration of three years..."
• "Application for approval of reserved matters shall be made not later than..."

Do not rely on a portal summary if the decision notice is available. The portal may show a target decision date, received date, validated date or decision date, and those are not the same as the expiry date.

Full Permission, Outline Permission And Reserved Matters

Different permissions can have different timing issues.

Outline permissions are especially easy to misunderstand. They may require reserved matters to be submitted within one period and development to begin within another. The GOV.UK application guidance explains that reserved matters are details left for later approval after outline permission.

What Counts As Starting Work?

Whether development has lawfully begun can be fact-sensitive. It may involve physical operations on site, compliance with pre-commencement conditions, and whether the works match the approved permission. A token scrape of ground is not something neighbours should try to judge from guesswork.

If someone claims an old permission is still alive, check:

• Were pre-commencement conditions discharged before work began?
• Is there evidence of a lawful start before the deadline?
• Did the council issue any certificate or correspondence?
• Has a later permission, amendment or variation changed the timing?
• Does the work now happening match the approved drawings?

If in doubt, ask the council planning department or enforcement team for the relevant records.

What Neighbours Should Watch

Old permissions can surprise neighbours because the public consultation happened years earlier. The first sign may be site clearance, scaffolding or a contractor van.

Search the address and nearby applications. Look for the original decision, approved drawings, discharge-of-condition applications and any later amendments. If the permission was never lawfully started before the expiry date, the applicant may need a new permission. If it was lawfully started, the permission may still be capable of being completed.

Buyers Should Ask Direct Questions

If a property is being sold with "planning permission", ask whether the permission is live, expired, implemented or subject to outstanding conditions. A live permission can add value; an expired one may be little more than planning history.

For nearby sites, the question is different: could an old permission still be built out after you move in? Ask your solicitor to check, but also read the public record yourself.

Official Sources

• GOV.UK guidance on use of planning conditions
• GOV.UK guidance on making a planning application
• Planning Portal decision-making process

Related PlanWatch Guides

• Planning Application Decision Notice Explained
• Discharge Of Planning Conditions
• Reserved Matters Planning
• How To Check Planning Conditions

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does planning permission usually last?

Many full planning permissions use a three-year time limit, but always read the decision notice because the exact condition controls the permission.

Does work have to be finished before the expiry date?

Usually the key issue is whether the development has lawfully begun before the deadline, not whether every part is finished.

Where is the planning expiry date shown?

It is usually in the decision notice as a time-limit condition, often near the start of the conditions list.

Can an expired permission be revived?

Generally a fresh permission is needed if the old permission expired without lawful commencement, although facts and transitional rules can be complex.

The Point To Remember

The expiry answer is in the decision notice and the site history. Check the condition, check commencement, and check whether later applications changed the position.