Planning committees approve schemes with anodised aluminium faster – here’s why

Anything which can speed up the planning process is invaluable to developers, funders and architects. Choosing an anodised aluminium façade is one way to get your scheme approved faster.

Planning officers love anodised aluminium because of its:

• High-end appearance which looks classier for longer
• Long-term durability over decades
• A1 fire rating for Golden Thread safety and Gateway 2

High-end appearance that looks classier for longer

Anodised aluminium offers a high-end appearance that gives your scheme an instant advantage. Planning officers will always prefer a deeper, richer finish over one which looks cheaper or superficial. Their job is to facilitate an environment which is attractive, vibrant and aspirational – the materials used in new buildings are key to creating that.

Anodised aluminium finishes allow you to provide that in a huge range of colours, patterns and textures which are a good fit for the local area and which respect the heritage of the site. Our finishes are resistant to fading, and are even entirely fade-free in many cases. That keeps the street scene looking fresh, vibrant and high-end for longer. 

You can even create a completely bespoke scheme with the assistance of the United Anodisers team if required!

Long-term durability in any environment

One of the great strengths of anodised aluminium finishes for building façades is its long-term durability in any environment, including the harshest marine locations.

The on-site behaviour of the anodised surfaces produced today is fully predictable, based on our proven, long-term experience anodising for architects since 1971. You can specify an anodised aluminium finish knowing it is resistant to:

• Corrosion from UV, wind, rain, marine environments
• Abrasion
• Adhesive failure
• Filiform corrosion

Most importantly, planning officers will understand this too and have more confidence in your project when the anodised finish guarantees such a high level of quality.

We are so confident in the quality and longevity of our finishes that we can offer a 25+ year guarantee for absolute peace of mind. We are able to confirm this guarantee at an early stage in most cases so you can include it in your planning application.

In reality, our finishes are likely to last even longer than that. Our portfolio is packed with projects which have lasted for 40 years or longer. In many cases, they have outlasted the building itself. 

A1 fire rating for Golden Thread and Gateway 2

Beyond the aesthetics of a street scene and skyline, planning officers will want to see more practical features. Anodised aluminium delivers on one of the most important considerations – fire safety.

Our anodised aluminium finishes are A1 fire-rated, making them a viable solution for exteriors, facades, cladding, and extrusions. This feature is especially important in the post-Grenfell era as regulations have tightened. Materials must now meet higher standards of fire safety and installation, and be able to prove it throughout the lifecycle of the building.

Anodised aluminium does not:

• Combust
• Contribute to the spread of fire
• Generate smoke or burning droplets

That makes A1 fire rated anodised aluminium finishes an easy choice. It simplifies Golden Thread reporting responsibilities for you and every other responsible person during the building’s operational lifespan. It also simplifies Gateway 2 approval for the façade, cutting down workload at that stage.

This is exactly what planning officers and inspectors want to see.

Anodised aluminium makes your life easier when you go in for planning permission

For architects, developers, funders and everyone else involved in securing all-important planning permission, the lesson is clear:

It is easier to get planning permission when you choose anodised aluminium because it provides everything planning officers want to see.

In fact, it is so preferable for them that many planning committees will actively insist that you specify anodised aluminium for your façade. You can cut out the middle man and speed up the planning approval process by specifying an anodised aluminium finish from the very start.

Want to learn more about our finishes and see them for yourself? Contact the team today and request a free sample pack.