This information will give you guidance on the limitations of what you may be able to carry out as permitted development. However the information provided only relates to houses and bungalows and does not apply to flats, maisonettes, mobile homes or residential caravans.
What you may be able to carry out as permitted development also depends on whether you live in a detached or terraced house. Particular care must also be taken if the building is listed, within a Conservation Area, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) or is affected by an Article 4 Direction, or conditions on a previous planning permission. 

Guidelines on Permitted Development for Householders

There are certain types of development and minor works that can be carried out without the need to apply for planning permission. This is known as ‘permitted development’.

This information will give you guidance on the limitations of what you may be able to carry out as permitted development. However the information provided only relates to houses and bungalows and does not apply to flats, maisonettes, mobile homes or residential caravans.
What you may be able to carry out as permitted development also depends on whether you live in a detached or terraced house. Particular care must also be taken if the building is listed, within a Conservation Area, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) or is affected by an Article 4 Direction, or conditions on a previous planning permission. 

Listed Buildings – If your house is a listed building you will require listed building consent before carrying out any type of work, even if your proposals are considered to be permitted development.

Conservation Areas and AONB’s - What you may be able to carry out as permitted development will also vary depending on whether you live within a Conservation Area or an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Article 4 Direction - Exceptionally permitted development allowances may have been limited or removed from your property either by a condition on an earlier planning permission, or by a special order (Article 4 Direction). Under these circumstances you will need to apply for planning permission, although the normal fee for an application will not be required.

EXTENSIONS, ATTACHED GARAGES, CONSERVATORIES AND OTHER ALTERATIONS.

  • Development is permitted for a detached house if the extension does not exceed 70 cubic metres or 15% of the volume of the original house whichever is the greater. In a terraced house, a Conservation Area or an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) the limit is 50 cubic metres or 10% of the volume of the original house. These dimensions must be taken around the exterior of the building.
  • In every case the maximum limit for an extension is 115 cubic metres, under the % calculation.
  • If the house has been extended before, the volume of this work must be added to the proposed works and together, be less than the above limits.
  • The extension cannot exceed the highest part of the original house roof.
  • No part of the extension can be within 20 metres of the nearest highway. However, if the original house is less than 20 metres from a highway, any extension must not be nearer the highway than the original house.
  • No part of any extension that is within 2 metres of the boundary can be more than 4 metres high.
  • The total area of the extension does not exceed one half of the garden.
  • Within a Conservation Area or an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), no cladding of the exterior with stone, artificial stone, timber, plastic or tiles, can be carried out.
  • Please note that any garage/ outbuilding/ shed within 5 metres of the original house is considered as an extension.

LOFT CONVERSIONS

  • Planning permission is not usually required to convert a loft area into a living space, however you may need Building Regulations approval.
  • Inserting skylights does not normally require planning permission. However, inserting a dormer window may require planning permission.

ROOF EXTENSIONS

  • Roof extensions are permitted if the extension is not higher than any part of the existing roof.
  • The extension does not extend beyond the existing roof slope that fronts a highway (A footpath may be considered as a highway in this case).
  • The cubic content of the house is not increased by more than 50 cubic metres, or in the case of a terraced house, by 40 cubic metres.
  • If the house has been extended before, the volume must be added to the roof extension and together be less than the relevant limit.
  • The house is not in a Conservation Area or an AONB.
  • Planning permission is not required for re-roofing unless your property is listed.

PORCHES

  • Planning permission is not required if the floor area is less than 3 square metres.
  • If the porch is less than 3 metres high.
  • If it is not within 2 metres of any highway (A footpath may be considered a highway in this case).

REPLACEMENT WINDOWS AND DOORS

  • If your dwelling is not a listed building planning permission is not normally required to replace existing windows and doors. However, consent under the Building Regulations maybe required unless they are installed by a FENSA registered company.

INTERNAL ALTERATIONS

  • You do not need to apply for planning permission to carry out internal works unless your property is a listed building. However, consent under the Building Regulations may be required. (see below)

DOMESTIC OUTBUILDINGS (Swimming pools, detached garages, garden sheds and greenhouses)

  • Development is permitted if it is not within 20 metres of a highway. If the original house is less than 20 metres from a highway, any development must not be nearer the highway than the original house.
  • The building must not be more than 3 metres high if it’s a flat roof or 4 metres if it’s a ridged roof.
  • If the proposed building is less than 5 metres away from the house, it will be considered as an extension.
  • If the house is listed or in a Conservation Area or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty an outbuilding is not permitted development if it is greater than 10 cubic metres.
  • The building must only be used for the private and personal enjoyment of the occupiers of the house.

 

GATES, FENCES OR WALLS

  • Planning permission is not required for a gate, fence or wall if they do not exceed 1 metre in height next to a highway used by vehicles or 2 metres elsewhere.
  • They do not exceed the height of any existing gate, fence or wall if these are greater than the heights referred to above.
  • The house is not listed.

 HARDSTANDING WITHIN THE GARDEN OF A HOUSE FOR DOMESTIC PURPOSES

  • Development is permitted for patios or a car parking area provided that there are no significant works required to alter ground levels.

 FORMING A VEHICULAR ACCESS

  • The alteration of an existing access or formation of a new access to a highway may require planning permission.

SATELLITE DISHES

  • Planning permission is not required if the dish does not exceed 90cm in any dimension, or 45cm if installed on a chimney.
  • There are no other satellite dishes on the house or within the garden.
  • It is not higher than the highest part of the roof or the highest part of the chimney if installed on a chimney.
  • In all cases dishes must be sited to minimise the effect on the external appearance of the dwelling and removed when no longer needed.
  • Special restrictions apply in Conservation Areas and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and on Listed Buildings.

CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OF OIL FOR DOMESTIC HEATING

  • Oil containers do not require planning permission if their capacity is not more than 3500 litres.
  • They are not more than 3 metres above ground.
  • They are at least 20 metres from the highway or, if the original house is less than 20 metres from the highway, not closer to the highway than the original house.
  • LPG tanks will generally require planning permission.

 THE PAINTING OF THE EXTERIOR

  • Exterior painting can take place without planning consent if the building is not listed.
  • The painting is not for the purpose of advisement, announcement or direction.

 BUILDING REGULATIONS

  • Even though your proposals may be permitted development you may still require approval under the Building Regulations. Although there are some exemptions to this they are not the same as the exemptions from the need for planning permission.