Are you adding an extension onto your home? If so, you’ll need to find out whether you require planning permission for your project.
While it’s exciting to embark on an extension project, it’s important to remember that you need to find out about planning permission before you rush into selecting finishes and paint colours. If you begin building without getting the permissions you require, you could end up having to demolish the entire extension or facing difficulties when the time comes to sell your home.
The good news is that you don’t need planning permission for all extensions, but you can’t just assume that you’re not going to need it. It’s essential to check out the rules before beginning construction to prevent possible problems in the future.
Permitted Development Rights
If you’re building an extension that is within permitted development rights there’s no need to obtain any planning permission. These rights enable homeowners to alter their home quickly with no need to make a planning permission application.
Nevertheless, permitted development projects must meet certain conditions and limitations and it’s always sensible to get in touch with the local planning authorities to check whether any permission is needed before work on your project starts.
Single Storey Extensions
If you’re adding a single storey extension to your home it will fall within your permitted development rights as long as it meets certain conditions and limitations. You are permitted to construct a single storey extension of up to 6m (or 8m if the property is detached) without getting planning permission, although the extension can’t be over 4m in height. If your proposed extension is within 2m of the boundary of your property, it cannot be over 3m in height.
Kitchen And Garage Extensions
There’s no need to obtain planning permission for kitchen extensions as long as they meet the same permitted development limitations and conditions outlined above. When it comes to garage extensions, there is no need to get planning permission so long as the garage isn’t being used as a form of living space.
If the garage will be freestanding is cannot be over 15m2. If the garage will be attached to the property it cannot have a floor space over 30m2. All materials used for the construction of the garage must not be flammable and it must be constructed a minimum of one metre from the boundaries of the property.
Two Storey Extensions
Two storey rear extensions fall under permitted development rights as long as they adhere to the required limitations and conditions. The pitch and eaves heights cannot exceed those of your existing property. If the construction will take place within 2m of your property’s boundaries, the eaves height cannot be over 3m.
You’re permitted to extend as far as 3m from your original property, but it has to be over 7m from your rear boundary. Any shed, outbuilding, or extension cannot be greater than 50% of your total plot of land.
All the materials you use must be similar in aesthetic to your original house and balconies and verandas cannot be added without getting planning permission. Should you plan include a side elevation upper floor window, it has to use obscured glazing. It must also be non-opening unless it’s over 1.7 metres internally from the floor level.
Planning permission is needed for any two storey extension to front or side of your original property. There are several considerations used to determine if the application will be refused or granted.
There are no permitted development rights for maisonettes and flats. Any property that has already been through a change of use at any time may also have no permitted development rights. It therefore makes sense to work with an architect if you’re having this kind of extension built.
How Much Does It Cost To Get Planning Permission For My Extension?
If you’re planning to build an extension, you should first get in touch with the local planning office who can let you know whether permission will be required, the kind of permission you’ll need and also how much it’ll cost.
Full planning permission costs £206 in England and £202 in Wales to make extensions or alternations to any flat or single swelling house.
Outline planning permission costs £426 in England, £401 in Scotland and £460 in Wales per 0.1 hectare of land.
Householder permission costs £206 in England, £202 in Scotland, and £230 in Wales but this type of permission doesn’t apply to flats or when altering the amount of dwellings.
What Do I Do If I’ve Got No Planning Permission?
If you haven’t obtained planning permission when building an extension, it’s possible to make a retrospective application. There is no guarantee of it being granted though. If the plans are refused you’ll need to put everything back to the way your property was before unless you make an appeal and the ruling is overturned. The price of retrospective planning permission is the same as advance permission.
How Do I Make A Planning Permission Application?
You can make a planning permission application for your proposed extension by getting in touch with your LPA (Local Planning Authority) via the local council.
When Is Planning Permission Required?
Usually, you’ll require planning permission when you are building something completely new, making any major changes to the building, for example an extension, or changing the building’s use. If the extension falls within the permitted development rights you require no planning permission.
Will Planning Permission Be Needed For A Small Home Extension?
You can build extensions up to 6m with no need for planning permission. If the property is detached, that limit is 8m.
What Does Lawful Development Mean?
A lawful development is one against no enforcement action can be taken, for which there is no planning permission requirement, and where there is no enforcement notice. There’s no legal requirement to get a lawful development certificate however it’s a good idea to get one.