Planning permission etc is given by the local council, so not necessarily held at the record offices for the county. Cant say I have been able to trace a house back that far . The tithe maps are very useful and there is a website which does old maps, which is also useful.
We visited New Zealand in 2003, via Australia, stayed at Littleton, where my husbands grandfather had sailed on a sailing ship in the 1890's, also went to Wellington to the record office there, and took a copy of the crew agreement for them to add to their records, the man there was thrilled with that, as there were names on there which he had been researching! Went to North Island first, then down to South Island and flew back from Christchurch. Went up the tower of the cathedral before the earthquake! We had a lovely time, super bed and breakfast places, and lovely people. Happy days.