planning permission

British

noun

(in Britain) formal permission that must be obtained from a local authority before development or a change of use of land or buildings

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

She told MSPs that a new track would not have received planning permission, adding it "beggars belief" parliament found time to debate a bill that does "little or nothing" for greyhound safety.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

"This planning permission will now allow the trustees to press ahead with their plans to redevelop and extend the former FLS Clatteringshaws Visitor Centre, near New Galloway," said a statement from the trustees.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2026

This would be subject to planning permission and approval from Scottish Water.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

Councillor James Ball said the the committee's hands were "slightly tied" because planning permission was already in place.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

It said, between 2017 and the end of 2025, more than 1,700 affordable homes had been built across the county and planning permission had been granted for 1,369 more.

From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023