I have worked on projects in Birmingham, including a wrap-around extension in Sutton Coldfield, which created a bright, open-plan kitchen, dining area and lounging space for a family home. Sutton Coldfield sits within the City of Birmingham, so Birmingham City Council is the planning authority there. Earlier in my career, at UngLo Architects, I also led the Oriental Supermarket on Holloway Road, a full change of use from a former furniture showroom.
Birmingham is a large city authority with a citywide Article 4 direction and a Community Infrastructure Levy, so knowing how the council approaches a proposal is part of getting a project onto the right footing.
- Council planning pages
- Birmingham City Council
- Local Plan
- Birmingham's adopted development plan is the Birmingham Development Plan (BDP), adopted in January 2017 and covering the period to 2031, alongside a number of saved policies from the 2005 Unitary Development Plan (adopted (Birmingham Development Plan, 2017); a new city-wide Local Plan running to 2044 is being prepared, with a Focused Preferred Options consultation held between October and December 2025). Local Plan page. A new Local Plan is being prepared.
- What to submit with an application
- Local validation requirements.
- Article 4 directions
- Birmingham has a city-wide Article 4 direction, in force since June 2020, that removes permitted development rights for the change of use of a house to a small house in multiple occupation (HMO) for 3 to 6 people, so such conversions need planning permission anywhere in the city. Conservation areas can carry further Article 4 controls. Article 4 directions.
- Community Infrastructure Levy
- Birmingham charges a Community Infrastructure Levy, in place since January 2016, with rates that vary by development type and charging zone. CIL is charged in addition to any Section 106 planning obligations. Community Infrastructure Levy page.
- Conservation areas and heritage
- Birmingham has around 30 conservation areas, including the Jewellery Quarter and Bournville Village, where additional controls apply. The council maintains the statutory list of listed buildings and a local list of buildings of local heritage value, and works to listed buildings need listed building consent. Conservation pages.
- Local guidance
- Supplementary guidance includes the Birmingham Design Guide, the council's principal design SPD, which carries the householder design guidance used to assess extensions, alongside topic-based and area-based SPDs. Validation is governed by the council's local information requirements. Supplementary planning documents.
What this means for your project
In Birmingham, the work I do is shaped by the city’s development plan and by the citywide Article 4 direction and conservation areas. If your property is in a conservation area or your scheme involves a house in multiple occupation, expect to need an application for work that might be permitted development elsewhere, and expect the council to look closely at materials and detailing. Birmingham charges a Community Infrastructure Levy, so larger schemes may carry a CIL liability alongside any Section 106 obligations. I check the current position for your specific address before any drawings are prepared.
Last checked: 27 June 2026. page reviewed Planning policy, charges and local designations change over time, so please confirm the current position with the council before relying on this summary.