Do you need Planning Permission?

A Guide to Permitted Development Rights

DOMESTIC PROJECTS – INTRODUCTION

There are many ways to renovate or extend your home without the need for Planning Permission. This is called Permitted Development.

Permitted development rights apply to most properties, however they may be restricted if your home is in one of the following categories:

• It is located in a Conservation Area
• It is located in a National Park
• It is located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
• It is located in a World Heritage Site
• It is a listed building

If any of the above apply to your project, then you should contact the planning department at your local authority for further information.

Your Local Authority may provide a service which will provide formal confirmation that your project can be carried out under permitted development rights (usually for a fee). If this is not possible you can apply for a lawful development certificate (for a fee) from your local planning authority to prove your development is permitted development. These documents are especially useful in circumstances such as the sale of a property.

In this document we have put together some information to how permitted development rights may apply to common domestic projects. This information is only intended as a guide and we would always

SINGLE STOREY EXTENSIONS

A single storey extension may be acceptable under permitted development rights if:

• No more then half the area of land around the original property would be covered by new additions.
• No extension is forward of the principle elevation or side elevation fronting a highway.
• Materials should be similar to the existing house.
• Side extensions to be single storey and must not have a width greater than half the width of the original house.
• Side extensions to have a maximum height of 4 metres.
• If the extension is within 2 metres of a boundary the maximum eaves height should be less than 3 metres.
• Single storey rear extensions should not extend beyond the rear wall of the existing house by more than 4 metres for a detached house or 3 metres for any other type of dwelling.
• The maximum height of rear extension is to be less than 4 metres.
• The maximum eaves and ridge height of extension is no higher than the existing house.

LOFT CONVERSIONS

A loft conversion may be acceptable under permitted development rights if:

• The additional roofspace created does not exceed 40 cubic metres for a terraced house or 50 cubic metres for a detached or semi-detached house.
• Materials are similar to the existing house.
• No part of the extension is higher than the existing roof.
• There are no balconies or verandas.
• Any window in the side elevation are to be obscure glazed and non-opening (unless opening part of window is at least 1.7 metres above floor level).
• Roof extensions are set back at least 20cm from the original eaves, the roof extension can not overhang the outer face of the existing wall.
• Work on a loft or roof may affect bats, a bat survey and a licence may be required before carrying out any works.
• Any extension (such as a dormer window) which projects beyond the roof slope of the principle elevation is not allowed under permitted development rights.

TWO STOREY REAR EXTENSIONS

A two storey extension may be acceptable under permitted development rights if:

• No more than half the area of land around the original property would be covered by new additions.
• The maximum eaves and ridge height of the extension are no higher than the existing house, if the extension is within 2 metres of a boundary the eaves height should be no higher than 3 metres.
• The extension does not extend more than 3 metres beyond the rear wall of the existing house or is within 7 metres of a boundary opposite the rear wall of the house.
• The roof pitch of the extension should match the existing house.
• The external materials are similar in appearance to the existing house.
• Any window in the side elevation of the rear extension should be obscure glazed and non-opening.
• There are no balconies or verandas

PORCHES

A porch may be acceptable under permitted development rights if:

• The area of porch (measured externally) does not exceed 3 square metres.
• The highest part of porch does not not exceed 3 metres.
• No part of the porch is within 2 metres of any boundary which fronts the highway.

OUTBUILDINGS

Development of outbuildings may be acceptable under permitted development rights if:

• It is not forward of the principal elevation of the existing house
• No more then half the area of land around the original property would be covered by new additions.
• It must not be separate, self contained living accommodation.
• It must be single storey with a maximum eaves height of 2.5 metres and an overall height of 4 metres (with a dual pitched roof) or 3 metres in any other case.
• If the outbuilding is within 2 metres of a boundary the building should not exceed 2.5 metres in height.
• No balconies or verandas are allowed under permitted development rights. Raised platforms such as decking are permitted development provided they are no higher than 300mm