Planning Policy
Planning Policy / Planning / Brighton and Hove / Convert a house into flats

Convert a house into flats in Brighton and Hove

Do you need planning permission for a conversion into flats in Brighton and Hove? Here is what the permitted development rules say, how Brighton and Hove City Council’s designations change them, and what decides an application — grounded in the official guidance, quoted verbatim.

The short answer

Do you need planning permission for a conversion into flats in Brighton and Hove?

Subdividing one dwelling into two or more is a material change of use: there are no householder permitted development rights for it, so every conversion is a full planning application. Whether a conversion into flats needs permission in Brighton and Hove still depends on your exact address and the designations on it.

1.0 — The permitted development position

The starting point

Subdividing one dwelling into two or more is a material change of use: there are no householder permitted development rights for it, so every conversion is a full planning application.

2.0 — What changes it in Brighton and Hove

How Brighton and Hove’s designations apply

Designation in Brighton and HovePublished
Conservation areas34
Article 4 directions (PD removed)0
Listed building outlines0

Quality decides it — room sizes against space standards, layouts, light and outlook, and amenity space. The principle of conversion is usually supported; poor internal quality is where schemes fail. Counts are read live from planning.data.gov.uk; your report checks them against your exact address.

3.0 — How it’s decided

What Brighton and Hove weighs

Quality decides it — room sizes against space standards, layouts, light and outlook, and amenity space. The principle of conversion is usually supported; poor internal quality is where schemes fail.

Read the full convert a house into flats guide →

4.0 — A worked example

See a conversion into flats in a real report

A change of use inside the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site — housing policy and heritage weighed together, 78% of 267 nearby decisions approved.

Read the house into two flats in greenwich case study →

Your report

Get a planning report for your Brighton and Hove address

A Planning Policy report reads the designations on your exact Brighton and Hove address, quotes the Brighton and Hove City Council and national policies that apply to a conversion into flats, and — on Pro — shows decided applications nearby with outcomes.

5.0 — Questions

Convert a house into flats in Brighton and Hove, answered

Do I need planning permission for a conversion into flats in Brighton and Hove?
Subdividing one dwelling into two or more is a material change of use: there are no householder permitted development rights for it, so every conversion is a full planning application. Whether a conversion into flats needs permission in Brighton and Hove still depends on your exact address and the designations on it.
Does a conservation area affect a conversion into flats in Brighton and Hove?
It can. Even where the size limits are met, Brighton and Hove City Council assesses the appearance of a conversion into flats against the character of a conservation area, and on a listed building separate consent is required.
How does Brighton and Hove decide a convert a house into flats application?
Quality decides it — room sizes against space standards, layouts, light and outlook, and amenity space. The principle of conversion is usually supported; poor internal quality is where schemes fail. A Planning Policy report quotes the specific Brighton and Hove City Council Local Plan and national policies that apply, verbatim, and shows decided applications nearby.
6.0 — More for Brighton and Hove

Other projects in Brighton and Hove