Do I Need Planning Permission For An Extension
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- Posted date:
- 26-10-2022
Do you need householder planning permission for an extension?
In a word, no, you don't necessarily need planning permission to build an extension. The only time you would be if your proposed extension goes beyond how permitted development rules limit changes to your property. The primary areas where development rights are restricted pertain to the front of a property, properties next to public roads or work proposed next to a property boundary.
But even if your extension plans fall into these categories, it's no cause for worry - obtaining planning permission for an extension isn't as difficult as it first appears. With your permitted development rights, you are free to make a variety of improvements and developments to your property without needing permission from your local authority planning office.
If you feel you'll need to apply for planning permission for your extension plans, you'll also want to consider the building regulations standards for your local area. Similarly to planning permission, guidelines determine what you can and can't do without building regulations approval.
Therefore, if you're unsure about the permissions and approvals you need for your extension, it's always best to rely on expert advice.
I have planning permission for an extension – can I start building work?
Once you've secured the necessary planning permission for your extension, you may be keen to get building. But you should remember: planning permission isn't the only consent you might need for your proposed extension.
One of the major restrictions to building extensions is restrictive covenants limiting such additions to properties.
Restrictive covenants require you to secure written consent from the original building developer or owner who placed the covenant on the property before you can alter it.
Regardless of what permissions you need, you must secure them before you begin construction on your new extension. Failure to do this means you could be in breach of a restrictive covenant.
If this happens, you will be forced to take down the extension through an enforcement notice or take our indemnity insurance, whichever is most appropriate for the covenant you breached.
These are important considerations for those who are looking to purchase properties as well. Suppose you have a property in mind that has extensions built upon it.
In that case, your solicitors can check whether the appropriate planning permission or other consent was secured before it was constructed. This saves you from eventualities such as purchasing a property only to discover that the extension attached breaches a restrictive covenant, forcing you to take the extensions down.
Of course, there's always the chance that your extensions don't require planning permission, but they may require building regulations. This can be a difficult determination to make on your own and usually requires professional assistance. This is because the relevant authorities are constantly updating planning laws and building regulation requirements, which can be tricky to keep track of.
Therefore, if you're unsure of what regulations or permissions your extension requires, it's always best to speak to a solicitor. They will know what relevant consents are required or were required if the extension already exists on your property.
Even if all the appropriate permissions were secured for an existing extension, you would need to bear these in mind if you plan to extend your property further.
What Is the criteria for planning permission, for an extension?
When determining whether your proposed extension requires planning permission, there are a few considerations you must bear in mind, including:
- The Size Of Your New Extension Cannot Exceed Half The Total Area Of Land Around Your "Original" Property. These Limits Include The Entirety Of The Building's History Since It Was Constructed, So You Will Need To Take Any Extensions Built By Previous Owners Into Account.
- You Cannot Build An Extension Under Your Permitted Development Rules If The Finished Structure Will Be Nearer To A Public Highway, Either Through Front Elevation Or Side Elevation. If Your Extension Plans Will Move The Boundary Of Your Home Closer To A Public Road, You Will Need To Apply For Planning Permission And Have Your Plans Approved.
- You Will Also Require Planning Permission If Your Planned Extension Will Be Higher Than The Tallest Part Of Your Existing Roof.
- For Semi-Detached Houses, Single-Storey Rear Extensions Cannot Extend Beyond The Original Boundaries Or Designated Areas Of The Property By More Than Three Metres. For Detached Houses, This Limit Is Extended To Four Metres.
- Any Single-Storey Extensions At The Rear Of A Property Should Not Exceed Four Metres In Height To Avoid The Need For Planning Permission.
- Extensions Of More Than One Storey Mustn't Extend Beyond The Rear Wall Of The Original Property By Over Three Metres. Any Extensions Exceeding This Limit Require Planning Permission To Construct.
- The Maximum Height Of The Eaves And Ridge Of The Extension Must Not Exceed The Height Of Your Existing House; Otherwise, You Will Need Planning Permission.
- For Side Extensions, They Must Be Single-Storey And Have A Maximum Height Of Four Metres. They Must Also Not Cover More Than Half The Width Of The Original House.
- Two-Storey Extensions At The Rear Of Your Property Must Come No Closer Than Seven Metres To The Boundary. If Your Two-Storey Extensions Reach Up To Eight Metres To This Limit, You Will Need Planning Permission Before Constructing The Extension.
- Any Materials Used To Create Your Extension Must Match The Appearance Of The Existing Property, Especially If You Want To Alter A Listed Building Or One In An Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty Or Conservation Areas. In Order To Use Materials With A Different Aesthetic, You Will Need Planning Permission Or Listed Building Consent.
How to get planning permission
Just shy of one-third of homeowners in the UK find that planning permission is one of the major obstacles to making alterations or major changes to their property, according to recent surveys.
But it doesn't have to be such a hassle. There are ways to make your planning permission application run smoothly and give your proposed plans the best chance of being accepted.
A key way to give your plans the best chance of being accepted is to have a professional architect design and submit your plans.
Professional architects, especially those with a track record of having plans accepted for planning permission, know what local authorities look for in successful planning applications.
You may also want to confer with a planning consultant, as they can warn you of local planning restrictions, preferences and targets.
With this information in mind, you plan your application accordingly to give you the best chance of being accepted. Besides this, they can provide other advantages to help your application succeed. Your planning consultant may suggest you meet with your local planning authority before submitting any planning permission applications.
Depending on their planning system, some authorities will charge for meetings at your local planning office, so it may not be viable for everyone. However, pre-planning meetings can help you learn what your local planning authority will likely accept regarding planning permission applications.
It also notifies them that your application will be on its way.You will need to carry out a decent amount of preparation before these meetings, as you will be expected to inform your local council of your main proposals and plans. Knowing what you want to achieve and having some detailed plans to show them is the best way to progress in these meetings.
Floor plans of internal walls and principal elevations are the main plans they want to see, as well as details for proposed changes to your property.
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