Residential
Is Your Project Permitted Development?
You can build more than most people realise, but to help work out if your project is PD just follow these steps:
Check
- Run through the relevant checklist below for the type of work you want to build.
- Check there are no Article 4 directions that remove PD rights from your property.
- Submit an application for a Certificate of Lawfulness to confirm the work is PD.
- materials of a similar appearance to existing house.
- Over 100m2 in floor area Cill payment will be required.
PD Checklists
These quick checklists should start to give you an idea if your work is PD. If you can check off each item for your kind of project, then there is a good chance that you don’t need planning permission.
Be aware of the “right to light”
Your extension might be within permitted development and you don’t need planning permission, but you still need to be aware of the impact that your extension is having on your neighbours home and particularly their “right to light”.
Every landowner (England and Wales) has the right to receive light through their window and if you seriously block light into their window and their window has been there for more than 20 years, they can take legal action.
Single Storey Rear Extensions
Single storey rear extensions can be built in Class A of the GPDO. A rear extension is the most common householder PD project.
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Max height 4m
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Max eaves height 3m if within 2m of any boundary
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Extension depth max 4m (or up to 8m until May 2019) if detached house
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Max extension 3m (or up to 6m until May 2019) if semi-detached or terraced house
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No cladding in Conservation Area
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Must have 50% of outdoor space ( front/back/sides) not including outbuildings.
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Should the new rear extension touch a side extension (proposed or existing), or a rear extension (proposed or existing), it will need to comply with the rules for rear/side extensions
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Should the extension go beyond the rear and side elevation of the original building, it will then have to comply with the rules for rear/side extensions. This also applies for wraparound side/rear extensions and corner infill extensions.
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Conservation area- single storey rear extension of no more than 3m (or 4m if the house is detached).
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Side extensions and two storey extensions – some of which are permissible under PD rights in other areas – are all excluded from PD rights in a Conservation Area.
Two Storey Rear Extensions
Two storey rear extensions can be built in Class A of the GPDO (granted permitted development order). You need to make sure that there is a big enough gap to the boundary to meet the rules.
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Max height to match the existing house
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Eaves height max 3m if within 2m of any boundary and not higher than the eaves of the house
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Max extension from rear wall of 3m
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Not wider than half width of the original house
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Side windows fixed and obscure glazed to 1.7m above floor
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Not in Conservation Area
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Min 7m from rear boundary
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upper floor side-windows obscure glass and non-opening
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pitch of roof same as original house.
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no verandah, balcony or raised platform
Side Extensions
Side extensions can be built in Class A of the PD rules. They are only allowed to be one storey and are not allowed in a Conservation Area.
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Max height 4m
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Single storey only
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Max width 50% of the original house
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Full depth of the house (only on straight elevation)
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Not in Conservation Area
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Max height 3m if within 2m of any boundary
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3m to eaves if within 2 meters of the boundary
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Can be full depth of the house
Roof Extensions
Roof extensions like dormer windows or hip-to-gable conversions can be built in Class B of the GPDO.
Max height of dormer or loft extension to match the existing roof
Max increase in loft volume of 50m3 (40m3 for the terraced house)
Eaves retained and extension set in 200mm
Side windows fixed and obscure glazed to 1.7m above the floor
No extension forward of original front roof slope (side dormers ok to gable fronts)
Not in Conservation Area
A “Juliette balcony” is not a “balcony” for the purposes of the GPDO, and therefore is permitted development.
Roof Lights
Roof lights can be built in Class C of the PD rules. They can be built on any roof slope, including the front, and are even allowed in Conservation Areas.
Max protrusion 150mm above roof slope
Roof lights on side roof slopes fixed and obscure glazed to 1.7m above floor
Porches
A Porch can be built at any entrance door under Class D of the GPDO 2015.
Max external area 3m2
Max height 3m
- Not within 2m of boundary with highway
Outbuildings
Outbuildings such as sheds; garden rooms or garden offices can be built in the curtilage of the property as Class E Permitted Development.
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Max roof height 4m, reduced to 2.5m if within 2m of boundary
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Max eaves height of 2.5m
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Must not be used as a separate house
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Not built in front of house, and not at side of house if in Conservation Area
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Can not cover 50% of the curtilage of the house
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Over 30m2 then building regulations will be required
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If under Under 15m2 building can be built closer than 1m from the boundary.
Patios
A Patio, decking or other hard surface such as a driveway can be built under Class F of the PD rules.
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Must be made of porous material if at front of house
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Must not be a raised more than 300mm
Chimneys
Chimneys or flues can be built or taken down under Class G of the GPDO.
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Max height 1m higher than existing roof
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Not on front or side roof pitches facing road in Conservation Area
