Permissions

Planning Permissions…

Loft Conversions

Planning permission is not normally required. However, permission is required where you extend or alter the roof space and it exceeds the specified limits and conditions.

From 1 October 2008 a loft conversion for your home is considered to be permitted development, not requiring an application for planning permission, subject to the following limits and conditions:

  • A volume allowance of 40 cubic metres for terraced houses
  • A volume allowance of 50 cubic metres 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, juliets 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 eaves.

*Designated areas include national parks and the Broads, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, conservation areas and World Heritage Sites.

Outbuildings

Rules governing outbuildings apply to sheds, greenhouses and garages as well as other ancillary garden buildings such as swimming pools, ponds, sauna cabins, kennels, enclosures (including tennis courts) and many other kinds of structure for a purpose incidental to the enjoyment of the dwelling house.

Other rules relate to the installation of a satellite dish, the erection of a new dwelling or or the erection or provision of a fuel storage tanks. From 1 October 2008 existing permitted development rights for oil storage will be amended to include liquid petroleum gas.

Also from 1 October 2008 outbuildings will be considered to be permitted development, not needing planning permission, subject to the following limits and conditions:

  • No outbuilding forward of the principal elevation fronting a highway.
  • Outbuildings and garages to be single storey with a maximum eaves heght of 2.2 metres and a maximum overall height of four metres with a dual pitched roof or three metres for any other roof.
  • Maximum height 2.5 meters within two metres of a boundary.
  • No verandas, balconies or raised platforms.
  • More than half the area of land around the “original house”* would be covered by additions or other buildings.
  • In National Parks, the Broads, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and World Heritage Sites maximum area to the converted by buildings, enclosures, containers and pools more than 10 metres from house to be limited to 5 square metres.

*The term “original house” means the house as it was first built, or as it stood on 1 July 1948 (if it was built before that date). Although you amy not have built an extension to the house, a previous owner may have done so.

Extensions

From 1 October 2008 an extension or addition to your home will be considered to be permitted development, not requiring an application for planning permission, subject to the following limits and conditions:

  • More than half the area of land around the “Original House”* would be covered by additions or other buildings.
  • No extension forward of the principal elevation or side elevation fronting a highway.
  • No extension to be higher than the highest part of the roof.
  • Maximum depth of a single-storey rear extension of three metres for an attached house and hour metres for a detached house.
  • Maximum height of a single-storey rear extension of seven metres.
  • Maximum depth of a rear extension of more than one storey of three metres including ground floor.
  • Maximum eaves height of an extension within two metres of the boundary of three metres.
  • Maximum eaves and ridge height of extension no higher than existing house.
  • Side extensions to be single storey with maximum height of four metres and width no more than half that of the original house.
  • Two-storey extensions no closer than four metres to rear boundary.
  • Roof pitch of extensions higher than one storey to match existing house.
  • Materials to be similar in appearance to the existing house.
  • No verandas, balconies or raised platforms.
  • Upper-floor, side-facing windows to be obscure-glazed; any opening to be 1.2m above the floor.
  • On designated* land no permitted development for rear extensions of more than one storey.
  • On designated* land no cladding of the exterior.
  • On designated* land no side extensions.

*The term “original house” means the house as it was first built, or as it stood on 1 July 1948 (if it was built before that date). Although you amy not have built an extension to the house, a previous owner may have done so.

*Designated land includes national parks and the Broads, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, conservation areas and World Heritage Sites.