Just because you’re planning home additions doesn’t always mean you have to manage difficult planning permission. Thanks to the rules on permitted development, UK house owners are allowed to do certain building projects without getting official planning approval from their council. Yet, although these rights make many things easier, they come along with many rules and restrictions. You should understand the limits of permitted development so you don’t run into costly mistakes or face legal problems.
In this guide, you’ll learn what permitted development really means and how homeowners can use it to get extensions and outbuildings built—the simple way.
A Homeowner’s Guide to Permitted Development Rights in the UK
So, let’s look at what permitted development rights actually are. Basically, these policies from the UK government enable homeowners to do some renovations on their houses with no full planning permission. All these rights are designed to help with any project, from just making small improvements to building garden buildings or extensions.
We should remember that different places have their own permitted development rules uk. The period an appropriate development must wait depends on the sort of property, its location and whether it is situated in a place like a conservation zone, a national park or an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). In special places, taking away permitted development rights may be allowed or required by an Article 4 Direction.
What Are Permitted Development Rights and How Do They Work?
Basically, allowed development rights make it easier to enhance your home. They’re supposed to make it easier for homeowners to make changes at home, avoiding amendments in planning applications. Even so, you can’t build whatever you want with these rights. Instead, their designs are limited by aspects such as height, total volume, what materials are used and the place the building will be on the property.
One case where no planning permission is required is when you build a rear extension only 1 storey tall, with the width not going beyond 3 metres for a terraced or semi-detached house (4 metres for a detached house) and the extension is 4 metres high or less. All of this is allowed under permitted development rules, provided the materials do not clash with the current construction.
In most situations, applying for a Lawful Development Certificate (LDC) from your council is a good idea. Even though it’s optional, this document helps guarantee that your project adheres to permitted development guidelines.
Key Rules for Permitted Development Extensions
Of all permitted development projects, home extensions are by far the most popular. There’s one more rule for side extensions: they can’t be any wider than half of the original house and, in other words, they have to be at least partly behind the main front section.
Making extensions for two storeys is a little more difficult. They may only be put at the back of the property and have to be no closer than 7 metres from the rear boundary. It’s also necessary for the roof slope to fit the existing house and any side-facing windows on your addition must be obscured so your neighbours are not disturbed.
Covering more than half of the land around the house is not allowed and here “original” means as your house first stood after construction or on 1 July 1948.
Outbuilding Regulations Under Permitted Development
People are choosing to add sheds, studios, gyms and offices to their gardens more than ever. It helps that a lot of these changes are allowed by permitted development, as long as you follow some guidelines.
Any outbuilding that is up to 2 metres from a boundary must have a single storey and cannot be higher than 2.5 metres in height. If installed remotely enough, they may reach up to 4 metres when the roof is pitched on two sides or up to 3 metres with all other roof designs. Only 50% of the garden’s surface can be made up by these structures and you shouldn’t use them as living spaces.
Although most garden buildings are allowed under permitted development, any plumbing or drainage systems generally require Building Regulations approval.
Limits and Conditions You Must Follow
While they are very helpful, there are many exact rules and restrictions that go with them. If you go beyond any dimension, you’ll have to complete a full planning application.
Other rules are:
- There is no permission for balconies or platforms under permitted development.
- Extensions can only be placed to the rear of the principal elevation (toward the road).
- The materials for the additions should look like those in the original house.
If your home is in a conservation area, national park or listed, specific rules come into force that may greatly reduce or remove your permitted development rights.
When You Still Need Planning Permission Despite PD Rights
Even though your project may legally be covered by permitted development, there are cases where you still need planning permission. For example:
- You live in a flat or maisonette which means PD isn’t an option for you.
- You are considering changing the height or shape of the roof which must often be approved by the proper authorities.
- An Article 4 Direction from your local council takes away Permitted Development Rights in the area.
- You want to build something ahead of your main house wall or put in a veranda or balcony.
In many urban parts of the UK, some new developments come with restrictive covenants or conditions that override national permitted development rules. It’s always advisable to double-check with your local planning authority before breaking ground.
Also Read-AI Art: Evaluating Technological Progress Against Ethical Boundaries
