Local planning policy field guide
Liverpool City Council planning policy summary
Explore Liverpool City Council’s planning requirements for common proposals, with the local tests, application evidence and official documents gathered in one place.
AI-generated from the linked official sources; not editorially reviewed. How these summaries are prepared.
- Local answers
- 16
- Official documents cited
- 1
- Planning sections
- 12
- Sources checked
- 5 September 2026
What this guide covers
Current city-wide policies in the adopted Liverpool Local Plan 2013–2033 relevant to common residential proposals. The policies map, the Joint Merseyside and Halton Waste Local Plan, adopted supplementary planning documents, Article 4 directions, current validation requirements and address-specific constraints must also be checked where relevant.
Popular checks
Start with a common planning question
Section 1
Consent, policy and location
Current development plan and policy hierarchy
What current plan documents and retained policies does the authority say form the development plan, and how should conflicts or transitions be handled?
Liverpool City Council identifies the Liverpool Local Plan 2013–2033, adopted on 26 January 2022, as the city's current Local Plan for deciding development proposals.
- When this answer applies
- Use the Local Plan alongside its policies map and any other development-plan or supplementary document that applies to the site or proposal.
Details and exceptions
- The Local Plan is not the whole policy picture: the separate waste plan, adopted supplementary documents, current national policy and site-specific designations may also apply.
Sources used
- Liverpool Local Plan 2013–2033 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Official Local Plan landing page, Adoption section; Local Plan sections 1.1–1.5, printed pages 9–10
Other planning topics11
Keep these national checklist topics in mind alongside the local requirements above.
- Neighbourhood plan applicability
- Site allocations and site-specific policy
- Design codes and masterplans
- Settlement boundaries
- Countryside development
- Green Belt development
- Local separation and green-wedge designations
- Planning permission and application route
- Permitted development and local limitations
- Prior approval requirements
- Article 4 directions
Section 2
Neighbour amenity
Daylight, sunlight, overshadowing and overbearing impact
How does the authority assess daylight, sunlight, overshadowing and overbearing impact?
Policy H8 says an extension must not cause significant loss of light or overshadowing, an overbearing or over-dominant effect on neighbouring habitable rooms or outdoor amenity space, or significant loss of privacy.
- When this answer applies
- Relevant where a house extension could affect neighbouring windows, rooms or outdoor amenity space.
Details and exceptions
- Policy H8 states an effects-based test rather than a universal 45-degree or separation-distance rule; geometry, orientation, levels and affected rooms must be assessed.
Sources used
- Liverpool Local Plan 2013–2033 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy H8.1(c), printed page 146
Related local appeal evidence
Neighbour living conditions
67 matched decision families in this local evidence view.
- 31 allowed
- 32 dismissed
- 4 other
Other planning topics5
Keep these national checklist topics in mind alongside the local requirements above.
- Outlook and enclosure
- Privacy, overlooking and separation
- Noise and vibration
- Odour, fumes and dust
- Artificial light and glare
Section 3
Design, form and character
Layout, siting and building lines
What does the authority say about layout, siting, orientation and building lines?
Policy H13 requires new housing outside the city centre to respond to surrounding density, character and space around buildings, integrate landscape and site features, protect privacy and amenity, address siting, scale, massing, layout and building lines, and provide appropriate separation.
- When this answer applies
- Relevant to new residential development outside the city centre.
Details and exceptions
- The policy does not prescribe a single separation distance; the site layout, windows, outlook, daylight, gardens and local character determine what is appropriate.
Sources used
- Liverpool Local Plan 2013–2033 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy H13.1–H13.5, printed pages 155–156
Extensions
What does the authority say about design and dimensions for front, side, rear, single-storey and multi-storey extensions?
Policy H8 supports house extensions and alterations where their design complements the dwelling and area, their size, scale and materials are in keeping, and neighbours' living conditions are not significantly reduced.
- When this answer applies
- Relevant to extensions and external alterations to dwelling houses that require planning permission.
Details and exceptions
- The assessment is site-specific and should also apply any current residential design guidance, heritage requirements and permitted-development rules.
Sources used
- Liverpool Local Plan 2013–2033 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy H8 and paragraphs 8.51–8.52, printed pages 146–147
Other planning topics7
Keep these national checklist topics in mind alongside the local requirements above.
- Scale, height and massing
- Side spacing and terracing
- Roof alterations and dormers
- Outbuildings and ancillary structures
- Materials and architectural detail
- Boundaries, frontages and entrances
- Character, context and placemaking
Section 4
Residential quality and housing form
Internal space standards
What does the authority say about internal space, room size, ceiling height and storage?
Policy H12 requires all new homes to meet the government's Nationally Described Space Standard.
- When this answer applies
- Relevant to new-build homes and, as explained by the plan, residential conversions.
Details and exceptions
- Apply the current edition of the national standard and confirm how the council treats the particular conversion or housing type.
Sources used
- Liverpool Local Plan 2013–2033 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy H12.6 and paragraph 8.82, printed pages 153–155
Accessible and adaptable homes
What does the authority say about wheelchair, accessible and adaptable housing standards or proportions?
Policy H12 requires all new homes to meet Building Regulations M4(2), seeks M4(3)(2)(a) wheelchair-adaptable provision for 10% of new homes, and applies M4(3)(2)(b) where a home is for a known wheelchair user.
- When this answer applies
- Relevant to new housing; the supporting text says the 10% M4(3) requirement applies to proposals over ten dwellings.
Details and exceptions
- The council considers site-specific factors such as flood vulnerability, topography and whether step-free access is viable.
- Building Regulations approval remains a separate process.
Sources used
- Liverpool Local Plan 2013–2033 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy H12.2–H12.5 and paragraph 8.80, printed pages 152–154
Subdivision and flat conversion
What does the authority say about subdividing dwellings or converting buildings to flats?
Policy H10 allows building and dwelling conversions to flats, studios, bedsits or HMOs only where the premises, internal layout, light, ventilation, acoustics, external space, waste, parking, landscaping, heritage and family-housing effects satisfy its detailed criteria.
- When this answer applies
- Relevant to conversion or subdivision into self-contained units or shared accommodation.
Details and exceptions
- HMO proposals must also satisfy Policy H11 and any operative Article 4 direction; licensing and Building Regulations are separate regimes.
Sources used
- Liverpool Local Plan 2013–2033 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy H10 and paragraphs 8.57–8.65, printed pages 148–151
Other planning topics8
Keep these national checklist topics in mind alongside the local requirements above.
- Private amenity space
- Shared amenity and play space
- Housing mix, size and density
- Older-person, care and supported housing
- Build to rent
- Student and co-living accommodation
- Annexes and ancillary accommodation
- Infill, backland and garden development
Section 5
Movement, parking and servicing
Refuse and recycling storage and collection
What does the authority say about bin storage, collection points, vehicle access and waste-separation design?
Policy H13 says new housing design should let collection vehicles get within 25 metres of drive ends or communal storage locations and should integrate sufficient waste-storage facilities into the development.
- When this answer applies
- Relevant to new residential layouts outside the city centre.
Details and exceptions
- Detailed bin capacity, presentation and access must follow the council's current recycling and waste guidance and highway requirements.
Sources used
- Liverpool Local Plan 2013–2033 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy H13.6(a) and H13.7, printed page 156
Other planning topics9
Keep these national checklist topics in mind alongside the local requirements above.
- Access, highway safety and visibility
- Vehicle parking
- Accessible parking
- Cycle parking and storage
- Electric-vehicle charging
- Turning, emergency access and tracking
- Servicing, loading and deliveries
- Active travel and public transport
- Transport impacts, mitigation and monitoring
Section 6
Heritage, archaeology and views
Other planning topics5
Keep these national checklist topics in mind alongside the local requirements above.
- Listed buildings and their setting
- Conservation areas
- Non-designated heritage assets
- Archaeology
- Historic landscapes and important views
Section 7
Nature, landscape and open space
Designated habitats and impact zones
What does the authority say about designated habitats, ecological networks, consultation zones and strategic mitigation areas?
Policy GI6 requires sufficient information to assess likely effects on internationally, nationally and locally designated nature sites and applies an avoid, mitigate and, as a last resort, compensate sequence to harmful effects.
- When this answer applies
- Relevant where a proposal could affect a designated habitat, priority habitat, protected species or ecological network, including effects beyond the site boundary.
Details and exceptions
- Habitats Regulations screening and any species survey must use current law, current designations and appropriate seasonal evidence.
Sources used
- Liverpool Local Plan 2013–2033 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy GI6, printed pages 239–240
Other planning topics9
Keep these national checklist topics in mind alongside the local requirements above.
- Trees and tree preservation
- Hedgerows
- Ancient woodland and veteran trees
- Protected species
- Biodiversity net gain
- Nationally designated landscapes
- Landscape character and visual impact
- Local Green Space
- Green infrastructure, open space and recreation
Section 8
Flooding, environment and climate
Flood risk and the sequential approach
What does the authority say about flood zones, sequential and exception tests, vulnerability, levels and resilience?
Policy R3 requires all proposals to follow the sequential approach, use the exception test where necessary and provide an appropriate Flood Risk Assessment when triggered, demonstrating that flood risk will not increase on the site or elsewhere.
- When this answer applies
- Relevant to proposals in flood-risk areas and any proposal for which current national policy or local evidence requires flood-risk assessment.
Details and exceptions
- Use current national policy, flood maps, climate allowances and the latest strategic flood-risk assessment rather than relying only on the plan's historic evidence references.
Sources used
- Liverpool Local Plan 2013–2033 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy R3.1–R3.2, printed pages 254–255
Drainage and sustainable drainage
What does the authority say about surface-water hierarchy, runoff, attenuation, SuDS, adoption and maintenance?
Policy R3 says sustainable drainage should be incorporated where reasonably practicable and designed for effective drainage, climate change, changing impermeable area, pollution control, water quality and habitat benefits; major schemes should assess SuDS at the earliest site-planning stage.
- When this answer applies
- Relevant to development that changes surface-water runoff, with particular emphasis on major development.
Details and exceptions
- Detailed discharge rates, maintenance and adoption arrangements depend on the site and current lead-local-flood-authority guidance.
Sources used
- Liverpool Local Plan 2013–2033 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy R3.4 and paragraphs 13.9–13.13, printed pages 254–255
Other planning topics9
Keep these national checklist topics in mind alongside the local requirements above.
- Coastal change and erosion
- Contaminated land
- Land stability and mining legacy
- Air quality
- Water environment, wastewater and nutrients
- Energy, carbon and sustainable construction
- Overheating and climate resilience
- Water efficiency
- Agricultural land and soils
Section 9
Housing delivery and contributions
Section 106 and infrastructure contributions
What does the authority say about planning obligations, infrastructure contributions, calculation and delivery?
Policy STP5 seeks proportionate developer contributions for on- and off-site infrastructure needed to mitigate a development, including future maintenance, using section 106 obligations or CIL as appropriate; a claimed viability issue requires site-specific independent financial evaluation.
- When this answer applies
- Relevant where new development creates an infrastructure or mitigation need that satisfies the current statutory tests.
Details and exceptions
- The contribution must comply with current statutory tests and the live infrastructure programme; planning conditions are preferred where they can address the impact.
Sources used
- Liverpool Local Plan 2013–2033 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy STP5 and paragraphs 5.42–5.47, printed pages 52–53
Other planning topics4
Keep these national checklist topics in mind alongside the local requirements above.
- Affordable housing
- Community Infrastructure Levy
- Viability
- Delivery, phasing and monitoring
Section 10
Application evidence and validation
Heritage and archaeology evidence
What does the authority say about when heritage statements, impact assessments, appraisals and archaeological evidence are required?
Policy HD1 requires proposals affecting heritage assets to include enough information to assess their impact, including a Statement of Significance and, where appropriate, a Heritage Impact Assessment; archaeological mitigation may require preservation, excavation, recording and deposit of findings.
- When this answer applies
- Relevant to designated and non-designated heritage assets, conservation areas, registered parks and gardens, scheduled monuments, archaeological sites and their settings.
Details and exceptions
- Evidence should be proportionate to the asset's significance and the proposal's effect; current national heritage policy also applies.
Sources used
- Liverpool Local Plan 2013–2033 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy HD1.3–HD1.9, printed pages 224–225
Transport, parking and travel evidence
What does the authority say about when access drawings, parking evidence, transport statements or assessments, tracking and travel plans are required?
Policy TP2 requires development generating significant movement to be supported by a Transport Statement or Transport Assessment and tests access, network operation, safety, walking, cycling, public transport, freight, parking, turning and servicing.
- When this answer applies
- Relevant to proposals that generate significant travel or alter access or transport infrastructure.
Details and exceptions
- The plan notes that its reproduced use-class thresholds pre-date the 2020 Use Classes Order; confirm the current document requirement with the council's current guidance.
Sources used
- Liverpool Local Plan 2013–2033 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy TP2 and paragraphs 14.7–14.9, printed pages 268–269
Ground and pollution evidence
What does the authority say about when contamination, stability, noise, vibration, air-quality, odour and lighting evidence is required?
Policy R1 requires proposals likely to have a pollution impact to demonstrate measures addressing air, water and soil pollution and show that noise, vibration and lighting effects will not be significant; it also protects new sensitive uses from existing authorised sources of nuisance.
- When this answer applies
- Relevant where the development may create pollution or places sensitive occupants close to an existing potentially polluting use.
Details and exceptions
- The evidence and mitigation must be proportionate to the source, pathway, receptor and current environmental-health guidance.
Sources used
- Liverpool Local Plan 2013–2033 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy R1 and paragraphs 13.2–13.6, printed pages 252–253
Other planning topics9
Keep these national checklist topics in mind alongside the local requirements above.
- Local validation list and core information
- Design and Access and Planning Statements
- Trees, landscape, ecology and BNG evidence
- Flood, drainage and water evidence
- Energy, sustainability and climate evidence
- Affordable housing, viability and contributions evidence
- Construction, demolition and waste evidence
- Environmental Impact Assessment
- Fire statements and planning-gateway evidence
Section 11
Economic, community and specialist uses
Other planning topics22
Keep these national checklist topics in mind alongside the local requirements above.
- Employment sites and premises
- Retail, town centres and main-town-centre uses
- Community facilities
- Tourism and visitor accommodation
- Agriculture and farm diversification
- Rural workers' dwellings
- Equestrian development
- Traveller, Gypsy and showpeople sites
- Caravan, camping and holiday parks
- Aviation, airports and aerodrome safeguarding
- Telecommunications
- Advertisements and signage
- Shopfront design
- Solar energy
- Wind energy
- Battery energy storage
- Other renewable and low-carbon infrastructure
- Hazardous installations and pipelines
- Defence, radar and technical safeguarding
- Ports and strategic transport infrastructure
- Minerals
- Waste development
Section 12
Separate consents and private matters
Other planning topics6
Keep these national checklist topics in mind alongside the local requirements above.
- Building Regulations
- Party Wall matters
- Private rights to light
- Covenants, boundaries and ownership
- Highway licences and adoption
- Environmental and other permits
Source library
Official documents used
Every requirement above links to its supporting document and source location. Browse all of the cited Liverpool City Council sources together here.
Browse 1 cited documents
- Liverpool Local Plan 2013–2033 (opens in a new tab)Development plan
Liverpool City Council · Adopted 26 January 2022
View official document page (opens in a new tab)