Relaxed planning laws: a green light for your project?

If you’re planning to add an extension or outbuilding to your property the following may be good news to you; in May the UK government published changes to Permitted Development (PD) rights in an attempt to relax planning rules, unclog delays and ensure the very best use is made of empty and underused buildings. This has resulted in a number of adjustments to planning rules for self-builders and those looking to carry out work on existing homes.

While strict rules on whether you are eligible to build still remain, depending on the size of the proposed work you may find that you now require only PD rights rather than traditional planning permission. 

The new legislation introduced temporarily increases the thresholds for single storey extensions which can be built under PD rights. The limits have been increased to a maximum depth of 8 metres for a detached house and 6 metres for all other properties for a period of 3 years running from 30 May 2013 until 30 May 2016.

An extension or addition to your house is considered to be permitted development, not requiring an application for 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.
• The width of the extension must not be greater than the width of half of the original house. 
• Side extensions to a single story must have a maximum height of four metres. 
• A single story rear extension must not extend beyond the rear of the original house by more than 6m (until May 2016 was 3m) on an attached house or by 8m (until May 2016 was 4m) if a detached house.
• The increased extension limits (between 3m and 6m and between 4m and 8m respectively) are subject to the neighbour consultation scheme.
• Materials to be similar in appearance to the existing house.
• Conservation areas, AONB and National Parks currently do not allow side extensions and 2 storey extensions under PD.
• Balconies, verandas and raised platforms (above 300mm) do not fall under PD rights.
• The permitted development allowances only apply to houses, not flats or maisonettes and listed buildings are not included.

You can find out more about these limits and conditions on the Planning Portal 

The neighbour consultation scheme means if any adjoining neighbour raises an objection within the 21-day period, the local authority will take this into account and make a decision about whether the impact on the amenity of all adjoining properties is acceptable.

The rules around permitted developments can be very complicated and strict so Oakmasters recommends that if you are in doubt, you should contact your Local Planning Authority for clarification as to whether your proposed build is permitted.

Planning a development? Why not browse the Oakmasters Houses & Extensions Gallery for inspiration?