Mortimer wrote

A petrol station near me caught fire a year last January and was
totally
burnt out. It took until November before the dilapidated building and

burnt-out cars on the forecourt were cleared away. Apparently if the
owner
wants to rebuild it, he has to seek new planning permission, even
though he
is rebuilding what was there previously. I'm not sure whether that
was a
special case or whether it's always true that a building which is
rebuilt
after demolition following a fire or other disaster needs a new
planning
application.

An interesting point.

Since the rebuild is hardly likely to be truly identical, planning
permission would seem required and of course the previous permission
may have included a time limit which has now expired. Some demolition
would also be needed and ISTR that demolition now requres permission
after various buildings were demolished lest they might be listed for
preservation.


--
Mike D