What You Need to Know about Permitted Development - Britmet Lightweight Roofing

With moving being one of the third most stressful life events after the death of a loved one and divorce. Homeowners are staying put in their homes for longer and choosing to do work to their current home instead.

According to figures released by Nationwide Building Society, the rate of buying and selling among existing homeowners has significantly decreased; with those aged between 55-64 have typically been in their current property for 17 years on average.

It’s great to love your home and feel happy staying put year after year, but it’s also true that our lives are ever changing and sometimes this means that our homes have to change too. When your situation changes, you want your home to change with you, and that can mean taking on a large project.

Many people are put off home renovation projects due to having to obtain planning permission. This process can potentially be drawn-out and costly.

However, not many people are aware that plenty of home improvement projects (including extensions!) can be carried out without the need for planning permission, under what is known as permitted development. The government have recently relaxed rules on the size of extensions that can be built under the permitted development policy; meaning there are a wide range of other jobs that you can do to renovate your home!

Keep in mind that the rules are stricter if your home is:

Listed
In a conservation area
Or has already had major work done to it (even by a previous owners)

Add a Porch or a Canopy

If your new porch is:

under 3m high
less than 3m squared in area
further than 2m away from the edge of your property boundary alongside a road

This will be covered by permitted development - which means you can add classic, charming character to your home.

Adding a shed, summer house or garden room

You’re free to add these useful spaces to your property, as long they meet a few requirements.

They cannot be used as bedrooms
They can only be a single storey
They must be a maximum eaves height of 2.5m (overall height is also restricted, depending on the style of the roof and where on your property it will sit)

Adding a solid roof conservatory

If you’re considering a solid roof conservatory, you will not need planning permission as long as it is under a certain size and depending on where your property is placed.

For detached homes, it can be no more than 4m in depth at the rear of your property, however semi-detached homes and terraced homes are limited to 3m. The maximum height allowed is 4m, unless it reaches 2m of any property boundaries, in which case it is restricted to 3m.

Adding an extension

As long as the size requirements are met (similar to solid roof conservatories) single-storey rear extensions can be added to your home without the need for planning permission. Single-storey side extensions cannot be wider than half the width of the original build.

In some cases, two-storey extensions can fall under permitted development. They must be at the rear of your home, less than 3m in depth, and further than 7m from rear boundary of the property.

Garage conversion

Typically, you can convert an attached garage into living space without the need for planning permission, however you will need to apply for a change of use under Building Regulations in order to make sure it meets certain standards (including being properly insulated etc.)

Loft conversion

Permitted development for loft conversions is limited by the scale of the project. For spaces equal to or less than 40m cubed permitted development applies, including adding dormer windows, as long as they do not extend beyond the highest part or front of the existing roof.

Interior changes

Interior re-designing such as knocking through walls and changing the internal layout of your home can usually be done without the need for planning permission, though you will need the work to meet Building Regulations approval.

Other work

There are plenty of other home improvement projects that don’t have to go through planning permission before you can get started on them - adding garden decking, new doors and windows, cladding, solar panels, basements and even swimming pools can all be covered by permitted development.

To find our how Britmet can help you with your permitted development project email us today sales@britmet.co.uk or call 01295250998!

Date Posted: 17th September 2020