What type of planning permission lasts for five years and is typically less expensive?

Outline Planning Permission is designed to provide a framework for the potential development of a site without requiring details at the initial stage. It is particularly useful for developers who want to assess whether a project is feasible before committing to more extensive and costly plans.

This type of permission is granted for a period of five years, allowing applicants time to finalize detailed plans and secure further permissions if necessary. The upfront costs associated with obtaining outline planning permission are generally lower than those for detailed full permissions because it requires less detailed information at the initial application stage. This means developers can gauge interest and market conditions before investing in the more comprehensive and expensive planning processes that follow.

In contrast, other types of planning permissions require more extensive information and submission of detailed designs upfront, which can lead to higher costs and complexity from the outset.