Permitted Development Rules

Permitted Development Rules & Rights

The beauty of permitted development is that the government has allowed extensions and enlargements to properties without the need to make a Full Planning Application.

Every house has Permitted Development Rights for items such as house extensions, loft conversions, extensions, garage conversions and porches, unless they have been removed. When extending your home under the Permitted Development rules it is advised to obtain a Lawful Development Certificate. This will eliminate the query of the extension being permitted. Also, when selling the property the process will be smoother as you can confirm the works are approved. To obtain the certificate an application will be made to the council. We will provide existing / proposed architectural drawings and complete the relevant forms. The council usually take 8 weeks to issue the Lawful Development Certificate. Unfortunately, flats and properties in conservation areas do not have Permitted Development Rights.

AJ Plans Permitted Development Rules Permitted Development Rules:

Loft conversions are NOT permitted development for houses on designated land.

To be a permitted development any additional roof space created must not exceed these volume allowances:
– 40 cubic metres for terraced houses.
– 50 cubic metres for detached and semi-detached houses.Bear in mind that any previous roof space additions must be included within this volume allowance. Although you may not have created additional space a previous owner may have done so.

An extension beyond the plane of the existing roof slope of the principal elevation that fronts a highway is NOT permitted development.

Materials must be similar in appearance to the existing house.

No part of the extension to be higher than the highest part of the existing roof.

Extensions (including previous extensions) and other buildings must not exceed 50% of the total area of land around the original house.

Extensions forward of the principal elevation or side elevation of a house and fronting a highway are NOT permitted development.

On designated ‘land-side’ extensions are not permitted development.

Materials used in exterior work to be similar in appearance to those of the exterior of the existing house. This condition does not apply when the extension is a conservatory.

Width of side extension must not have a width greater than half the width of the original house.

Side extensions to be single storey with a maximum height of four metres*.

If extension is within two metres of a boundary maximum eaves height should be no higher than three metres to be permitted development.

Single storey rear extension must not extend beyond the rear of the original house by more than 3m an attached house or by 4m if a detached house. In addition, outside designated land and Sites of Special Scientific Interest the limit is increased to 6m if an attached house and 8m if a detached house until 30 May 2016. These increased limits (between 3m and 6m and between 4m and 8m respectively) are subject to the neighbour consultation scheme.

Single storey rear extension must not exceed a height of four metres*.

Maximum eaves and ridge height of extension no higher than existing house.

On designated land extensions of more than one storey are not permitted development.

Extensions (including previous extensions) and other buildings must not exceed 50% of the total area of land around the original house.

Maximum eaves and ridge height of extension no higher than existing house. If an extension is within two metres of a boundary, to be permitted development, the maximum eaves height should be no higher than three metres.

Extensions of more than one storey must not extend beyond the rear wall of the original house by more than three metres, or be within seven metres of any boundary opposite the rear wall of the house.

Roof pitch of extensions higher than one storey to match that of the existing house, as far as is practicable.

Materials used in exterior work to be similar in appearance to those of the exterior of the existing house.

Any upper-floor window in a wall or roof slope in a side elevation must be obscure- glazed and non-opening unless the parts which can be opened are more than 1.7 metres above the floor of the room in which it is installed.

No balconies or verandas are permitted development.

On designated land, outbuildings to the side of the house are not permitted development.

Outbuildings are not permitted development within the grounds of a listed building.

Outbuildings are not permitted development forward of the principal elevation of the original house.

Outbuildings and other additions must not exceed 50% of the total area of land around the original house. Sheds and all other outbuildings and extensions to the original house must be included when calculating this 50% limit.

To be permitted development, any new building must not itself be separate, self contained, living accommodation and must not have a microwave antenna.

Outbuildings must be single storey with a maximum eaves height of 2.5 metres and maximum overall height of 4 metres with a dual pitched roof, or 3 metres in any other case.

If the outbuilding is within 2 metres of the property boundary the whole building should not exceed 2.5 metres in height.

Balconies and verandas are not permitted development. Raised platforms such as decking are permitted development provided they are no higher than 300mm

Ground area of the porch, measured externally, not to exceed three square metres.

Highest part of the porch not to exceed three metres.

No part of the porch to be within two metres of any boundary that fronts a highway.

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