Planning guidelines for Installing a
driveway, patio, paving and decking.
Planning permission is not normally required when the following apply
The hard surface is built using a permeable building materials.(allows water through)
Standard impermeable paving can be used if the rainwater drains onto grass or borders or into a specially constructed soakaway.
The area of hard surface intended is less than 5 square metres.
Back gardens are not effected by this legislation it only affects front garden areas, elsewhere around the house there are no restrictions on hard surfaces at or near ground level.
You may need planning permission when the following apply
Rainwater from the impermeable hard surface of front garden areas at ground level has nowhere to run other than into a household drainage system or on to the public highway.
The house is a listed building.
These are meant to be helpful guideline only, It's your responsibility to apply for planning permission, so if unsure, its a good idea to check with your local council.
Decking
Planning permission and building regulations
Decking your garden does not normally need planning permission, if the decking is not more than 30cm above the ground and
totaled with other extensions does not cover more than 50 per cent of your garden. Decking around flats, maisonettes or other buildings may require planning permission. If your decking needs planning permission building regulations will almost certainly apply.
Extending your home.
Planning permission.
Extensions to your house ( not flats, maisonettes or other buildings) will not normally require planning permission, subject to the following limits and conditions:
- No more than half the area of land around the "original house"* would be covered by additions or other buildings.
- No extension forward of the principal elevation or side elevation fronting a highway.
- No extension to be higher than the highest part of the roof.
- Maximum depth of a single-storey rear extension of three metres beyond the rear wall for an attached house and four metres beyond the rear wall for a detached house.
- Maximum height of a single-storey rear extension of four metres.
- Maximum depth of a rear extension of more than one storey of three metres beyond the rear wall including ground floor.
- Maximum eaves height of an extension within two metres of the boundary of three metres.
- Maximum eaves and ridge height of extension no higher than existing house.
- Side extensions to be single storey with maximum height of four metres and width no more than half that of the original house.
- Two-storey extensions no closer than seven metres to rear boundary.
- Roof pitch of extensions higher than one storey to match existing house.
- Materials to be similar in appearance to the existing house.
- No verandas, balconies or raised platforms.
- Upper-floor, side-facing windows to be obscure-glazed; any opening to be 1.7m above the floor.
- On designated land* no permitted development for rear extensions of more than one storey.
- On designated land no cladding of the exterior.
- On designated land no side extensions.
Planning Permission for a
loft extension or conversion
Planning permission is not normally required. However, permission is required where you extend or alter the roof space and it exceeds specified limits and conditions.
Under new regulations that came into effect from 1 October 2008 a loft conversion for your home is considered to be permitted development, not requiring an application for planning permission, subject to the following limits and conditions:
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A volume allowance of 40 cubic metres for terraced houses
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A volume allowance of 50 cubic metres for detached and semi-detached houses.
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No extension beyond the plane of the existing roof slope of the principal elevation that fronts the highway.
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No extension to be higher than the highest part of the roof.
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Materials to be similar in appearance to the existing house.
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No verandas, balconies or raised platforms.
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Side-facing windows to be obscure-glazed; any opening to be 1.7m above the floor.
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Roof extensions, apart from hip to gable ones, to be set back, as far as practicable, at least 20cm from the eaves.
We will run through wether you will need planning permission for your loft extension with you.
Conservatories
Planning permission
Adding a conservatory to your house does not normally require planning permission, subject to the limits and conditions listed below.
- No more than half the area of land around the "original house"* would be covered by additions or other buildings.
- No extension forward of the principal elevation or side elevation fronting a highway.
- No extension to be higher than the highest part of the roof.
- Maximum depth of a single-storey rear extension of three metres for an attached house and four metres for a detached house.
- Maximum height of a single-storey rear extension of four metres.
- Maximum depth of a rear extension of more than one storey of three metres including ground floor.
- Maximum eaves height of an extension within two metres of the boundary of three metres.
- Maximum eaves and ridge height of extension no higher than existing house.
- Side extensions to be single storey with maximum height of four metres and width no more than half that of the original house.
- Roof pitch of extensions higher than one storey to match existing house.
- No verandas, balconies or raised platforms.
- On designated land* no permitted development for rear extensions of more than one storey; no cladding of the exterior; no side extensions.
What is planning permission?
Planning departments control the use of land and what's built on it. It's enforced by local planning authorities (LPAs).
Under certain circumstances householders may need to apply for planning permission when considering building an extension, converting a loft space even paving a front garden.
If you build without first gaining permission you can be legally forced to have the building restored to its original.
Most extensions, loft conversions and hard landscaping won't require planning permission, guidelines and details above.
Anyone can apply and there are two types of permission you can apply for - outline and full.
Outline permission
For a new building you can submit an outline planning application to check whether it's acceptable in principle. Permission lasts for three years
Full permission
Full planning permission lasts for three years and work should normally start within three years or you may need to reapply.