If you are planning on doing some simplified alterations to your property you may not need Planning Permission. This is called “Permitted Development” whereby you can continue to carry out eligible works with only the requirement for a Building Warrant.
Legislation was changed to assist homeowner in the process of trying to Extend or Alter their existing house, whilst taking away the burden and lengthy process of obtaining Planning Permission.
Permitted Development has a set of guidelines to follow and if you can comply with these then you will not need full Planning Permission. Below are a few examples of common type projects and the Permitted Development guideline associated with each;
Single-storey extensions –If your extension will have one storey, you don’t need planning permission as long as:
- it’s located at the back of the house
- it doesn’t go back further than 3 metres if it’s a terraced house, or 4 metres if it isn’t
- the height of the eaves (where the wall meets the roof) is no higher than 3 metres
- it’s not higher than 4 metres, including sloping roofs
- it doesn’t cover more floor area than your house does
- it doesn’t take up half the ‘curtilage’ – the grounds behind your home
- it isn’t within a conservation area
Adding a Porch– You won’t need planning permission to add a porch to your house as long as:
- its footprint (the total floor area it takes up) is no greater than 3 square metres
- there’s at least 2 metres between the edge of the porch and any boundary facing a road
- it isn’t taller than 3 metres
- it isn’t within a conservation area
Outbuildings Most ancillary buildings do not need a planning permission as long as:
- it’s located at the back of the house
- it’s not used as a separate home to live in
- it, and any other development, does not take up half or more of the ‘curtilage’ – this means half or more of the grounds behind your home
- it’s not higher than 4 metres at the highest point
- any part that’s a metre or less from the boundary is no higher than 2.5 metres
- the eaves (the part where the wall meets the roof) is no higher than 3 metres
- if the land is in a conservation area or in the grounds of a listed building, the ancillary building has a footprint of less than 4 square metres
Garage Conversions – Planning permission is not usually required for a Garage Conversion, providing the work is internal and does not involve enlarging the building.
If your intention is to convert a garage into a separate house, then planning permission may be required no matter what work is involved.
Sometimes permitted development rights have been removed from some properties with regard to garage conversions and therefore you should contact your local planning authority before proceeding, particularly if you live on a new housing development or in a conservation area.
Loft Conversions – A loft conversion to your house is considered to be permitted development, not requiring an application for planning permission, as long as your proposed loft conversion complies with the following:
- A volume allowance of 40 cubic metres additional roof space for terraced houses
- A volume allowance of 50 cubic metres additional roof space for detached and semi-detached houses
- No extension beyond the plane of the existing roof slope of the principal elevation that fronts the highway
- No extension to be higher than the highest part of the roof
- Materials to be similar in appearance to the existing house
- No verandas, balconies or raised platforms
- Side-facing windows to be obscure-glazed; any opening to be 1.7m above the floor
- Roof extensions not to be permitted development in designated areas
- Roof extensions, apart from hip to gable ones, to be set back, as far as practicable, at least 20cm from the original eaves
- The roof enlargement cannot overhang the outer face of the wall of the original house.
The local authorities offer a service, called Certificate of Lawfulness. This is an application made to the council and they give you written confirmation back to confirm if your proposed project is classified as Permitted Development. This process is not dissimilar to a full Planning Permission application as we sill need to provide the following;
- Completed Application Form
- Land Ownership Certificate
- Location and Block Plan (for both existing and proposed)
- Existing Floor Plans and Elevations
- Proposed Floor Plan and Elevations
- Payment for the Local Authority Fee
Once your Certificate of Lawfulness application has been received and validated by the local authority, it takes a several weeks for the council to review and provide feedback. Within this period, we will be in dialogue with the Planning Officer to ensure any questions that arise are dealt with promptly.
We will always keep you up to date with all developments whilst your application goes through the process as we act as your duly appointed agent from the outset.
Follow Our Socials
