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Planning permission for a temporary construction project in England may not require a separate application if the site office, welfare unit, storage structure, plant or other facility qualifies under Class A permitted development. It must be genuinely required for the duration of authorised operations on the site or adjoining land, and removal and reinstatement conditions apply. If the proposal does not qualify, or you cannot establish that it does, check with the local planning authority (LPA) and follow its application requirements.
This guide covers England only. Planning rules in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland differ. Whether a particular facility qualifies depends on its purpose, location, duration and the status of the main project.
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Do I need planning permission for a temporary construction site office or facility?
Not necessarily. Under Class A, Part 4 of Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, certain temporary buildings, moveable structures, works, plant and machinery may be permitted development when they meet the rule’s conditions. This is a specific construction-related provision, not a general exemption for anything described as temporary.
Class A concerns items “required temporarily in connection with and for the duration of” operations being carried out, or to be carried out, on, in, under or over the land where the item is placed, or on adjoining land. The connection must be genuine: a facility should support the operations, and its presence should last only for their duration. A site cabin, storage unit or plant item is not automatically covered just because it is portable or will eventually be removed.
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Class A does not apply to mining operations. It also does not apply where planning permission is required for the underlying operations but has not been granted or deemed granted. If the main project needs permission, a temporary office or compound cannot make an unauthorised project lawful.
After the operations, any building, structure, works, plant or machinery permitted under Class A must be removed. If adjoining land was used for the development, it must be restored to its previous condition as soon as reasonably practicable. Those obligations are part of the route, not optional housekeeping.
What does the Class A wording actually cover?
The statutory description is deliberately broad. It covers “the provision on land of buildings, moveable structures, works, plant or machinery required temporarily in connection with and for the duration of operations being or to be carried out on, in, under or over that land or on land adjoining that land.” That can include a cabin, welfare unit, temporary storage structure, hoarding-related works, or construction plant when the facts fit the wording. The breadth of the nouns does not remove the need to prove the operational connection and the limited duration.
Think of Class A as a functional test rather than a time allowance. The item must be needed because the construction operations are happening, and it must be there for the period those operations are being carried out. A structure that has an independent commercial, residential or storage use, or that is intended to remain after the works, is less likely to satisfy that description. The Order also contains exclusions, including mining operations, so read the current consolidated provision rather than relying on a label such as “temporary cabin”.
How can I check whether Class A applies to my proposal?
Compare the proposal with each part of the Class A rule before relying on it. Record the facts clearly, and check that the underlying operations are authorised where permission is required.
- Describe every temporary item. Note whether it is an office, welfare unit, storage structure, works, plant or machinery; its size and intended use; and where it will be placed. List separate items rather than describing an entire compound vaguely.
- Map its location. Establish whether it sits on the project land or land adjoining it. If the proposal uses adjoining land, identify that land separately, show the access and working area, and plan how it will be restored.
- Explain the operational connection. State which construction operations the item supports and why it is required for them. For example, explain the work phases that need welfare, supervision, storage or plant. A facility with a separate or continuing use may not fit the rule’s requirement that it be connected to and present for the duration of the operations.
- Set out the timeline. Identify when the relevant operations are expected to begin and end, when each item will arrive, and when it will be removed. The important question is not simply whether the item is temporary in a general sense, but whether its presence is for the duration of the qualifying operations.
- Check the main project’s planning status. If the operations require planning permission, verify that it has been granted or deemed granted. A pending application, an intention to apply, or an absent permission does not meet that condition.
- Plan removal and restoration. Include removal of the temporary item after the operations and, if adjoining land is used, reinstatement to its previous condition as soon as reasonably practicable. Keep a record of the land’s condition before occupation so the restoration task is clear.
- Check exclusions and other controls. Confirm that the work is not mining and that no separate restriction changes the position. Class A answers a planning-permission question only; it does not decide every other approval that a project may need.
If any element is unclear, do not assume that the exemption applies. Contact the relevant LPA with a concise description, location plan and proposed dates, and ask what route it expects you to follow. A site-specific answer matters because the information available here cannot determine the status of a particular site, its designations or the project’s permission history.
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Does the 28-day rule cover a construction cabin or compound?
No—not as a general construction exemption. The separate Class B provision in the 2015 Order concerns temporary uses of land and is not a blanket rule allowing construction cabins, site offices or compounds for 28 days.
Class B allows use of land for any purpose for no more than 28 days in total in a calendar year, with a 14-day limit for specified purposes in the provision. It also permits a moveable structure for the permitted use, subject to exclusions. Those limits concern the specified temporary-use route. Class A, rather than Class B, is the provision specifically addressing temporary items needed for operations on the land or adjoining land.
Do not treat “it will be there for less than 28 days” as enough to establish that a construction facility is permitted. Identify which provision applies to the actual proposal and meet its conditions; duration alone does not convert one route into another. Counting days under Class B also does not cure a facility that is really a construction support item falling to be assessed under Class A or an application route.
What should I do if Class A does not cover the proposal?
Contact the LPA responsible for the site, check its local information list and submit a planning application if express permission is needed. Most planning applications are made to the relevant LPA; application requirements include national requirements and any applicable local requirements.
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The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s guidance on making a planning application explains the general application process. The LPA’s current requirements should guide the documents you prepare. Electronic submission through the authority’s website is encouraged; paper submission may also be available.
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What documents are usually needed for a planning application?
A valid application generally needs a completed form, the correct fee, the national information requirements and any applicable local-list information. The precise package depends on the application and site, so confirm it with the authority rather than treating a general checklist as universal.
- Completed application form for the relevant application.
- Correct application fee. The amount depends on the application type and current rules; it cannot be determined from the project description alone.
- Location plan showing the application site in relation to the surrounding area and clearly identifying the site boundary.
- Plans, drawings and other information needed to describe the development. Identify drawing scales and show north where applicable.
- Ownership certificate and agricultural land declaration appropriate to the application.
- Any applicable statements or local-list material, which may include a Design and Access Statement, Fire Statement or other information required by the authority.
Additional drawings are usually needed to describe the proposal. For a temporary construction facility, make the submitted plans and description clear about where it will stand, its dimensions and access, and how the proposal relates to the operations. Show the relationship between the main project, the facility and any adjoining land. Include the proposed start and removal dates, the end condition of the land, and the method or timing of reinstatement where that is relevant.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteIf adjoining land is involved, show it clearly and explain the intended reinstatement. A location plan should identify the application site in relation to its surroundings; proposal drawings should use an identified scale and show north where applicable. The local list may add reasonable requirements suited to the proposal and location, such as a particular statement or technical information. Check the list before submitting and ask the LPA if an item appears disproportionate or unclear.
Do not rely on a guessed fee or an assumed decision timetable. The application type, current fee rules and the LPA’s requirements determine what applies. The Development Management Procedure (England) Order 2015, article 7 is part of the application procedure; the authority’s current guidance and validation requirements are the practical starting points for assembling a submission.
How should I present the temporary nature of the scheme?
Make the time limit and end use unambiguous. A clear statement can identify the operation, the date or event that marks its completion, the period for which the facility is needed, and the steps for removal. Explain whether different items will be removed in stages as work phases finish. If the facility is on adjoining land, describe how surfaces, access, fencing or other affected features will be returned to their previous condition as soon as reasonably practicable.
Do not describe a facility as temporary merely because it is demountable. The authority will need to understand its planning function and the period of use. A proposal that leaves the facility in place for an open-ended period, or gives it a new use after construction, should be assessed on that later use rather than assumed to remain within Class A.
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Can the council grant permission for a limited period?
Yes. If the proposal needs an application, the LPA may impose a specified temporary period under section 72 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. A temporary permission is a possible outcome, not an automatic entitlement or a substitute for meeting the application’s requirements.
Government guidance identifies circumstances in which a time-limited permission may be appropriate, including a trial run to assess effects, a situation where planning circumstances are expected to change, or a meanwhile use of vacant land or buildings. The case should be made against the facts of the site and proposal; simply describing a development as temporary does not establish that a temporary permission is justified.
The guidance also says a second temporary permission will rarely be justified and that temporary approval does not create a presumption that permanent permission will later be granted. If you need to continue the use or keep a facility beyond the permitted period, do not assume the authority will extend or regularise it. Read the conditions and period in any permission and plan accordingly. See the government’s guidance on the use of planning conditions.
Class A or application: which route fits?
| Route | What it concerns | Key check | What follows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class A permitted development | A temporary facility, structure, works, plant or machinery needed for operations on the site or adjoining land. | Is it genuinely connected to, and present only for the duration of, authorised operations, with no applicable exclusion? | Remove the item after the operations and reinstate qualifying adjoining land as soon as reasonably practicable. |
| Planning application or temporary permission | A proposal that does not clearly qualify for Class A or needs express permission. | What does the LPA’s current national and local checklist require, and is a specified temporary period justified? | Submit a valid application. Any temporary period and conditions will be those stated by the authority; later permanent approval is not presumed. |
Class B’s 28-day temporary-use provision is a separate legal route, not a third generic construction exception. Use it only when the proposed use and all of its conditions actually fit that provision.
What are the common mistakes?
- Relying on portability. Wheels, modular construction or a short hire contract do not by themselves establish permitted development.
- Ignoring the main permission. Class A cannot be used to support operations for which required planning permission has not been granted or deemed granted.
- Using the 28-day rule as a shortcut. A short stay does not automatically bring a construction office or compound within Class B.
- Leaving the facility after completion. Removal is a Class A condition. A later storage, office or commercial use needs its own planning assessment.
- Forgetting adjoining land. The rule can cover adjoining land, but that does not eliminate the need to show the connection or to reinstate the land promptly.
- Submitting a generic application pack. Local lists vary. Missing ownership information, plans, a declaration or a required statement can prevent validation.
- Assuming temporary means approval is easy. A time-limited permission remains discretionary and does not create a route to permanent consent.
- Starting before the route is clear. Place cabins, plant or storage only after checking Class A or obtaining the permission the LPA requires.
What is the safest route for a temporary construction proposal?
Start with Class A, but treat it as a set of conditions to verify—not a general “temporary means permitted” rule. If you cannot show that the facility is required for the duration of authorised operations, or another condition is uncertain, ask the LPA whether an application is needed before placing it on site.
- Write down what will be installed, its purpose, location and intended dates.
- Confirm the main operations have planning permission where one is required, checking that it is granted or deemed granted.
- Assess whether the temporary item is genuinely connected to and needed for those operations for their duration, and check the mining exclusion.
- Prepare a location plan and a simple schedule showing installation, operational use, removal and, where relevant, adjoining-land restoration.
- Plan removal and, where adjoining land is used, restoration to its previous condition as soon as reasonably practicable.
- If Class A is not clearly available, check the authority’s application type, local list, fee and submission route. Assemble the form, ownership material, plans, drawings and any required statements.
- Consider whether a specified temporary permission is appropriate, without assuming it will be granted or later made permanent.
- Keep copies of the permission, plans, correspondence and removal records so the end-of-operations obligations can be demonstrated.
Planning permission is only the planning question addressed here. This guide does not determine whether a particular project needs other approvals or consents, so check any separate requirements that apply to the site and works.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a site cabin on neighbouring land under Class A?
Class A expressly includes operations on land adjoining the land where the temporary item is provided, but the connection to the operations and the duration conditions still apply. If adjoining land is used, it must be reinstated to its previous condition as soon as reasonably practicable after the operations.
Can I keep a temporary facility after the construction work finishes?
Class A requires permitted temporary buildings, structures, works, plant or machinery to be removed after the operations. If you want a facility to remain or continue in use, do not assume the original temporary route covers that later use; seek advice from the relevant local planning authority.
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Does a portable cabin automatically count as permitted development?
No. Portability is only one fact. The cabin must be required in connection with, and for the duration of, qualifying operations, the underlying project must be authorised where permission is required, and the removal condition must be met.
Does the 28-day rule apply to a construction site office?
Not as a general rule. Class B concerns specified temporary uses of land and has a 28-day total limit in a calendar year, including a 14-day limit for specified purposes. Class A is the construction-specific provision for temporary items needed for operations on the land or adjoining land.
What if the main construction permission is still pending?
Class A does not apply where planning permission is required for the underlying operations but has not been granted or deemed granted. A temporary office or compound cannot make the main project lawful, so check the project’s permission status before relying on Class A.
The Bottom Line
In England, a temporary construction facility may fall within Class A permitted development, but only when it is genuinely required for the duration of authorised operations on the site or adjoining land and the removal and reinstatement conditions are met. The 28-day rule is a separate, limited provision and is not a general cabin exemption. If Class A is uncertain or unavailable, check the LPA’s current local list and submit a properly documented application; a temporary permission may be possible, but it is discretionary and does not promise permanent approval.
