LANDOWNERS must ensure they renew any planning permission consents as work done after the permit expired is unlawful, a North-East legal expert has warned.

Steven Heath, property solicitor at Mincoff Jacksons, said that despite the economic downturn, land remains a very valuable asset, particularly land which has planning permission for development.

The Government recently declined the Confederation of British Industry’s request to allow the extension of permissions due to expire to help people and companies forced to postpone projects during the recession.

Mr Heath warned that if permissions are not renewed, any work done is seen as being without consent.

“If your planning permission expires but you still want to develop, albeit later than intended, you will have to apply again,” he said. “This may cause problems because there may have been changes in planning policy which make it difficult or costly to obtain that permission again.

“It follows that if you have a planning permission which is soon to expire, you should think carefully. You can begin development, thus preserving the permission, but not complete it.

“If there are conditions, do what they say. This will mean incurring cost, but not as much as for a full new planning application and failure to do so may mean that the work you do is unlawful.”