Planning and Design Guides
Official Resources for Bristol and the West of England
Planning policy and design guidance varies between local authorities.
This page brings together the official resources most often used for residential extensions, loft conversions, listed buildings, renovations and new homes across Bristol and the surrounding area.
How to use this resource
Start with the guidance for the council responsible for your property.
The documents explain local expectations, but they do not confirm whether a particular proposal will be acceptable. Planning policy, site constraints and the individual design must still be considered together.
Bristol City Council
Bristol’s guidance includes advice on house alterations and extensions, urban design, conservation areas, sustainability, transport and other specialist matters.
• View Bristol supplementary planning documents and design guidance
• View Bristol conservation area character appraisals
South Gloucestershire Council
South Gloucestershire publishes householder design guidance alongside policies covering trees, green infrastructure, drainage, biodiversity, annexes, outbuildings and development in the Green Belt.
• View South Gloucestershire planning policy guidance
North Somerset Council
North Somerset’s guidance includes a four-part residential design guide. It covers design principles, residential layout, parking, recycling and waste.
• View North Somerset residential design guides and additional planning guidance
Bath and North East Somerset Council
Bath and North East Somerset provides additional guidance for development affecting historic buildings, conservation areas and the World Heritage Site.
Its sustainability guidance is also useful when planning extensions, alterations, retrofit work and new buildings.
• View Bath and North East Somerset planning policy documents
• View sustainable construction and retrofitting guidance
National planning guidance
National rules and policy also apply. The Planning Portal provides general guidance for common householder projects, while national policy is published by the government.
• Read the National Planning Policy Framework
Check before relying on a guide
Council documents are updated and replaced over time.
Always check that you are reading the latest adopted version. You should also confirm whether the property is listed, within a conservation area, affected by an Article 4 Direction or subject to other site-specific restrictions.
Need project-specific advice?
Wall Architecture can review the relevant planning constraints and explain which guidance is most important for your proposal.
Contact us to discuss your project.
