Planning permission
You will usually require planning permission for most types of development. However, if your conservatory, extension, porch or canopy meets the conditions set out below, planning permission will not be required. This is called 'permitted development'. You will need planning permission if your 'permitted development' rights have been removed by a condition on a previous Planning Permit in the last 30 years.
Planning permission is not required for a domestic conservatory, extension, porch, canopy or retractable awning provided that:
- the conservatory, extension, porch or canopy is being built within your domestic curtilage (‘domestic curtilage’ is the area of land on which a dwelling house sits which is used for residential purposes. It does not include a field or other open land next to a house, even if it is in the same ownership) and
- for conservatories and extensions the external area of the structure is no greater than 30 square metres in total; if structures (including outbuildings and extensions to the house) have already been built as 'permitted development' (without the need for planning permission)since 1 June 2007, the combined total area of all structures must not exceed 30 square metres
- for porches and canopies, the external area is no greater than 3 square metres in total
- for retractable awnings, the awning is not installed above ground floor level
- the conservatory or extension is not in front of a principal elevation of the house (‘principal elevation’ means any elevation or wall of a house that faces and is within 20 metres of a public road). Porches and canopies can be build in front of a principal elevation
- the conservatory, extension or porch is not to be used for a commercial purpose and
- the conservatories and extensions the height does not exceed 3.5 metres if the roof is pitched (in which case the bottom of the roof planes must not exceed 2.5 metres). This includes a part flat part pitched roof
- for conservatories and extensions the height does not exceed 3 metres if the roof is flat
- any part of the roof of a conservatory or extension if it is within 1 metre of an adjoining property boundary does not exceed 2 metres in height
- the conservatory / extension is accessible from the interior of the house
- for porches and canopies the height does not exceed 2.75 metres or is built within 2 metres of a road
Making an application - planning
What are the exceptions to the above?
You will need permission if:
- any of the work involves the formation or alteration of vehicle access to a public road
- any of the work creates an obstacle to a view of a public road or near a bend, corner or junction that would result in danger
- your property is registered as a listed building or place (LBP) or a potential listed building or place (pLBP) and does not fall within an area of archaeological potential (AAP)
- your 'permitted development' rights have been removed by a condition on a previous Planning Permit in the last 30 years
Is my building or place listed?
Building permission
You will normally require building permission if you want to build an extension to your home. However, extensions to a dwelling comprising of small conservatories, carports and entrance porches are exempt where they meet certain criteria.
Conservatory
You will not require building permission if:
- a conservatory, which is attached to a dwelling, is separated from the dwelling by a wall, doors or windows that keep heat in the dwelling
- it is has a internal floor of no more than 20 square metres
- all low level glazing is safety glass
- it is constructed at ground level
- where any of its walls are within 1 metre of the boundary they are constructed substantially of non-combustible material
Conservatories are not exempt if they will restrict ladder access to windows serving rooms in the roof or loft conversions, or first floor windows which are intended to help escape or rescue if there is a fire.
Any new structural opening between the conservatory and the existing house will require building bye-law approval, even if the conservatory itself is an exempt structure.
Replacing a glazed conservatory roof with a solid roof will require building permission
Porch
You will not require building permission if:
- the structure is to be used for no other purpose
- it is not more than 5 square metres in floor area
- any glazing is safety glass
Car port
You will not require building permission if:
- the structure is open on at least 2 sides (doors are not an open side)
- the roofed area is no more than 20 square metres
Making an application - building
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