What is allowed under permitted development rights?
What are permitted development rights?
You can carry out certain alterations to your house without the requirement of obtaining planning permission. These are called ‘ permitted development rights’. Please be aware that there are restrictions in certain area’s for permitted development rights, such as conservation area’s. Further details can be found on the planning portal website.
Whilst planning permission may not always be required, obtaining building regulations approval will, in most instances, be required. Without obtaining building regulations approval you will not have the certificates of compliance that you need when you want to sell your home. Therefore it is still important to employ the services of an Architectural Designer even when planning permission is not required.
What can you do under permitted Development Rights?
Single Storey Rear Extensions
The most common way to extend a property, is to extend single storey to the rear. Many people have this work done in order to create an open plan kitchen, dining, living area.
In order to comply with permitted development rights the extension must not project further than 4m for detached dwellings and 3m for semi-detached / terraced dwellings from the original rear wall of the house and can be the full width. The ‘original’ wall is defined as per the house that was originally built or as it stood on 1st July 1948.
Single Storey Side Extensions
You can extend to the side of your property under permitted development rights providing that the width of the extension is no more than half the width of the original house. (As it was built or stood on 1st July 1948). The eaves must be no higher than 3m and the overall height no higher than 4m.
Permitted development side extensions can be carried out in addition to permitted development rear extensions providing restrictions are adhered to for both. As soon as you 'join' a side and rear extension round the corner of a house, you will require planning permission.
Loft Conversions
Loft conversions are the most cost effective and simplest solution to gaining an extra bedroom for an ever-growing family. You can convert your loft into a habitable space under permitted development rights, including creating a dormer window to the rear of the property in order to gain extra headroom.
Additionally, properties that have existing hipped roofs can be converted to gable roof’s also under permitted development rights – again maximising the headroom and potential of the space. Roof lights can be added to the front roof plane for additional light.
All permitted development rights come with additional criteria that must be met. For more information on this you can visit the government website and download the ‘Permitted Development Rights for Householders – Technical Guidance’ document. We would recommend always employing the services of an architectural designer to ensure compliance.
For peace of mind, you can apply to your Local Authority Planning Department for a ‘Lawful Development Certificate’, which means you will obtain a document stating that the proposals are permitted development as proof if you ever come to sell your property. There is an application fee of £103 for obtaining these certificates.