Planning Permission for Steel Buildings in Somerset & the South West
- southwesttradestee
- Jan 21
- 3 min read
If you’re planning a steel building in Somerset, Devon, Dorset or the wider South West, one of the first questions you’ll likely ask is:
“Do I need planning permission?”
The answer is sometimes yes, sometimes no — and getting this wrong can lead to delays, extra costs, or enforcement issues. This guide explains planning permission for steel buildings in plain English, with a focus on how it typically works across South West local authorities.
When Planning Permission IS Required for a Steel Building
In general, planning permission is required if the steel building is:
Commercial or industrial use
Outside permitted development limits
Close to boundaries, roads or dwellings
In a sensitive area (AONB, National Park, conservation area)
A change of use from the existing land designation
Most commercial steel buildings will require planning permission, but that doesn’t mean it has to be complicated if it’s handled correctly from the start.
Permitted Development: When Planning Permission May NOT Be Needed
Many agricultural steel buildings fall under permitted development (PD), meaning full planning permission may not be required.
Permitted development often applies when:
The building is for agricultural use
It meets size and height limits
The site is an established agricultural holding
The building is not used for residential or commercial purposes
However, permitted development is not automatic. In most cases, you’ll still need to submit a prior notification to the local authority.
Planning Permission for Agricultural Steel Buildings
Agricultural steel buildings are one of the most common applications we see across the South West.
Planning or prior approval may be triggered by:
Building size or height
Proximity to boundaries
Visual impact
Access or highways considerations
Intended use (e.g. storage vs livestock)
Each council interprets guidance slightly differently, which is why local knowledge matters.
Common Reasons Planning Applications Get Refused
Across Somerset, Devon and Dorset, refusals usually come down to a few recurring issues:
Scale – buildings considered too large for the site
Siting – poor positioning within the landscape
Visual impact – especially in rural or elevated areas
Access & traffic – unsuitable entrances or increased movements
Use ambiguity – unclear or changing intended use
The good news is that most of these issues can be addressed before an application is submitted.
How to Improve Your Chances of Approval
A few simple steps dramatically increase success rates:
✔️ Early advice
Pre-application discussions with the local authority can flag issues early and save months of delay.
✔️ Sensible design
Steel buildings can be designed to:
Reduce visual impact
Sit lower into the landscape
Use colours and finishes that planners prefer
✔️ Clear intended use
Be specific and honest about how the building will be used. Vague applications raise red flags.
Does Steel vs Timber Affect Planning Permission?
From a planning perspective, material choice rarely causes refusal on its own.
In fact, steel buildings can sometimes:
Offer cleaner, simpler profiles
Be easier to justify visually
Allow for darker, recessive finishes
What matters more is scale, siting and use, not whether the building is steel or timber.
Planning Permission Across the South West
Local authorities across:
Somerset
Devon
Dorset
Cornwall
All follow national planning policy, but interpretation and local priorities vary. A solution that works in one district may need adjustment in another.
That’s why it’s always worth approaching planning with local context in mind, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Get Advice Before You Commit
Planning permission doesn’t have to be a barrier — but it does need to be considered early.
If you’re unsure whether planning permission is required for a steel building in the South West, a short conversation at the start can prevent:
Design changes later
Application refusals
Costly delays
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