MOVING home or staying put, you might be looking to make additions to your property but unsure of the legalities, so here’s a quick guide from Armishaws Removals.

Side extensions

Under ‘permitted development’ planning permission is not required as long as;

• It doesn’t exceed half the width of the original house*.
• It is single storey, no taller than 4 metres.
• Materials used (such as bricks) match those of the existing property.
• It covers no more than 50% of your original garden area (including outbuildings).
• Eaves cannot exceed 3 metres in height if the extension falls within 2 metres of a boundary.

Rear extensions

Under ‘permitted development’ planning permission is not required as long as;

• It’s single storey with a maximum height of 4 metres.
• Materials used match those of the existing property.
• Maximum depth; 3 metres for semi-detached/terraced properties, 4 metres for detached properties.
• Eaves cannot exceed 3 metres high if the extension falls within 2 metres of a boundary.
• It covers no more than 50% of the original garden area (including outbuildings).

If you’re adding a veranda, you will require planning permission.

Front extensions

All front facing extensions require planning permission regardless of size and will need to comply with building regulations.

Loft conversions

Under ‘permitted development’ a loft conversion doesn’t require planning permission as long as;

• It doesn’t exceed a volume of; 40 cubic metres in volume for terraced houses, 50 cubic metres for detached and semi-detached houses.
• It doesn’t extend higher than the existing line of your property.
• Materials used match those of the existing property.
• Side facing windows must have obscured glass.

Bay windows

• If you’re replacing an existing bay window you don’t need planning permission.
• If you’re adding a bay window to the side or back of your property, in most cases, you don’t need planning permission.
• You do need planning permission if you’re adding a bay window to the front of your property.

Dormer windows

• In general, dormer windows at the back of your property are allowed within ‘permitted development’ but it’s always best to check with your local authority.
• Dormer windows at the front of your property will require planning permission.

Porches

Any new porch must not;

• Obstruct public pavements or pathways.
• Exceed 3 metres in height.
• Be located closer than 2 metres to any boundary or highway, including pavements and pathways.
• The floor must not exceed 3m².

In cases where you wish to exceed the limits (like the distance to the nearest pavement), you will need planning permission. In most cases this is a fairly straight forward process.

Converting a garage

Most garage conversions fall under ‘permitted development’ and won’t require planning permission, materials must match those of the existing building.

However if it changes the front of your property, you should always check with your local planning authority.

Please note;
All information was correct at the time of writing, however you should always check with your local planning authority before making any changes to the size or layout of your property.

* Original house = Properties ‘built on or after July 1st 1948’. If the house was built before, the rule applies to how the house existed on that date.

You can find more handy home knowledge at www.Armishaws.com/blog.