Guidance to Householders
Work you can normally carry out to
your house without permission
This section provides some general guidance on minor domestic
works which in principle can normally be carried out without
planning permission. However, professional advice should always be
sought before carrying out any works as the regulations are
complex.
Particular care must be taken if the
house is a listed building, within a conservation area, affected by
an Article 4 Direction or is in an Area of Outstanding Natural
Beauty (AONB).
Class A - Extensions and
Improvements
Permitted development subject to the following limits and
conditions:
- 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 depth of a rear extension of
more than one storey of three metres including ground floor.
- On article 1(5)* land no permitted
development for rear extensions of more than one storey.
- Maximum eaves height of extension
three metres within two metres of the boundary.
- 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.
- Side-facing windows to be
obscure-glazed; any opening to be 1.7m above the floor.
- On article 1(5)* land no cladding of
the exterior.
- On article 1(5)* land no side
extensions.
Class B - Roof extensions
Permitted development subject to the following limits and
conditions:
- A volume allowance of 40 cubic metres for
terraced houses.
- A volume allowance of 50 cubic metres
for detached and semi-detached houses.
- No extension beyond the plane of the
existing roof slope facing onto and visible from the highway.
- No extension to be higher than the
highest part of the roof.
- Materials to be similar in appearance
to the existing house.
- No verandas, balconies or raised
platforms.
- Side-facing windows to be
obscure-glazed; any opening to be 1.7m above the floor.
- Roof extensions not to be permitted
development in designated areas.
- Extensions to be set back, as far as
practicable, at least 20cm from the eaves.
Class C - Roof Alterations
Permitted development subject to the following limits and
conditions:
- Any alteration to project no more than 150
millimetres from the existing roof plane.
- No alteration to be higher than the highest
part of the roof.
- Side-facing windows to be obscure-glazed; any
opening to be 1.7m above the floor.
Class D - Porches
Permitted development subject to the following limits and
conditions:
- No larger than 3 sq.m. area (measured
externally).
- No higher than 3m.
- No part is within 2m of curtilage to
highway
Class E - Outbuildings, Enclosures, Swimming Pools and Gas
Containers
Permitted development subject to the following
limits and conditions:
- No building, enclosure, pool or container
forward of the principal elevation fronting a highway.
- Buildings to be single-storey with maximum eaves height of 2.5
metres and maximum overall height of four metres with a dual
pitched roof or three metres for any other roof.
- Maximum height 2.5 metres within two metres of a boundary.
- No verandas, balconies or raised
platforms.
- Maximum 50 per cent coverage of garden.
- In National Parks, the Broads, Areas of
Outstanding Natural Beauty and
- World Heritage Sites the maximum area to be
covered by buildings,
- enclosures, containers or pools more than 20
metres from house to be limited to 10 metres2.
- On article 1(5)* land, buildings, enclosures,
containers or pools at the side of properties will require planning
permission.
- Within the curtilage of listed buildings any
outbuilding will require planning permission.
-
Class F - Hard Surfaces
-
Permitted Development subject to:
-
Any surface installed in the front garden of
more than 5m2 to be either porous or to run-off to a porous or
permeable surface.
-
Class G - Chimneys, Flues and Soil and Vent Pipes
-
Permitted Development subject to:
-
The height being less than 1m above the
highest part of the roof.
On article 1(5)* land no installation on the principal or a
side elevation that fronts a highway.
-
Class H - Microwave Antenna
- Permitted development subject to the
following limits and conditions:
- No more than 1 antenna per
dwelling
- Single antenna not to exceed 100cm in
length
- 2 antennas which do not meet the
relevant size criteria (only 1 antenna may exceed 60 cm in length,
and any antenna that exceeds 60cm length must no exceed
100cm).
- On chimney if antenna length of no
more than 60cm
- Antenna has cubic capacity of no more
than 35 litres
- On roof without chimney, no higher
than ridge.
- On roof with chimney, no higher than
chimney or 60cm above ridge (whichever is lower).
- In conservation areas not on a
chimney, wall or roof slope facing on and visible from a highway;
not on a building exceeding 15m high.
- Antenna must be sited to minimse
effect on the external appearance of building
Antenna must be removed when no longer
needed
Part 40 - Class G
Solar panels to become permitted development
on a principal or side elevation visible from a highway in
conservation areas and World Heritage Sites.
* Conservation Areas and Areas of Outstanding
Natural Beauty