SOLAR PANELS
The installation of solar panels and equipment on residential buildings and land may be 'permitted development' with no need to apply to the Local Planning Authority for planning permission. There are, however, important limits and conditions:
- Equipment on a building should be sited, so far as is practicable, to minimise the effect on the amenity of the area.
- When no longer needed equipment should be removed as soon as reasonably practicable.
Solar equipment mounted on a house:
- Panels should not be installed above the highest part of the roof (excluding the chimney) and should project no more than 200mm from the roof slope or wall surface.
- The panels must not be installed on a building that is within the grounds of a listed building or on a site designated as a scheduled monument.
- If your property is in a conservation area, or in a World Heritage Site, panels must not be fitted to a wall that fronts a highway.
Stand alone solar equipment
- Only the first stand alone solar installation will be permitted development. Further installations will require planning permission.
- No part of the installation should be higher than four metres
- The installation should be at least 5m from the boundary of the property
- The size of the array should be no more that 9 square metres or 3m wide by 3m deep
- Panels should not be installed within boundary of a listed building or a scheduled monument.
- If your property is in a conservation area, or in a World Heritage Site, no part of the solar installation should be nearer to any highway bounding the house than the part of the house that is nearest to that highway.
GATES, WALLS & FENCES
It’s worth knowing that Permitted Development facilitates the erection, construction, maintenance, improvement or alteration to a gate, fence, wall or other means of enclosure, providing such work accords with the following limitations:
- The height would not exceed 1m when adjacent to a highway
- The height would not exceed 2m for any other gate, fence etc
- Such development is not permitted under PD around a listed building
DECKING
Putting up decking, or other raised platforms, in your garden is permitted development, not needing an application for planning permission, providing:
- The decking is no more than 30cm above the ground
- Together with other extensions, outbuildings etc, the decking or platforms cover no more than 50 per cent of the garden area.
SWIMMING POOLS
When looking to enhance the enjoyment of your garden, what better way than to build swimming pool for the whole family to enjoy? Under Permitted Development rights you can build a pool within your garden, provided that the total area covered by the pool does not exceed 50% of the area of the garden curtilage.
SHEDS & OUTBUILDINGS
Outbuildings are a clever way to add extra space without the need for planning permission
Where you have a larger plot, there may be opportunities to build multiple outbuildings under PD, providing the total area covered by such buildings/enclosures does not exceed 50% of the total area of the curtilage. This 50% should take into account any extensions, but not the area covered by the main house.
Outbuildings cannot sit forward of the principal elevation, and there are height restrictions depending on the type of roof (4m for dual pitch roofs, 3m for other roofs, and 2.5m when the building is within 2m of the boundary). Outbuildings may only be single storey, with the maximum eaves height remaining at 2.5m.
A key factor to bear in mind when considering what you want to achieve from an outbuilding is that the use should be ‘incidental’ to that of the dwelling, e.g. gym, garage, store. Outbuildings under PD cannot be used for residential accommodation, e.g. bedrooms.
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PORCHES
The planning rules for porches are applicable to any external door to the dwelling-
- the ground floor area (measured externally) would not exceed three-
square metres. - no part would be more than three metres above ground level (height needs to be measured in the same way as for a house extension).
- no part of the porch would be within two metres of any boundary of the dwelling-
house and the highway.
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TWO STOREY EXTENSIONS
A two-
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LOFT CONVERSIONS
A loft conversion for your house is considered to be permitted development, not requiring an application for planning permission, subject to the following limits and conditions:
- A volume allowance of 40 cubic metres additional roof space for terraced houses
- A volume allowance of 50 cubic metres additional roof space for detached and semi-
detached houses - No extension beyond the plane of the existing roof slope of the principal elevation that fronts 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 are not to be permitted development in conservation area, national parks or areas of outstanding natural beauty.
- Roof extensions, apart from hip to gable ones, to be set back, as far as practicable, at least 20cm from the original eaves
- The roof enlargement cannot overhang the outer face of the wall of the original house.
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MOVING WINDOWS & DOORS
You do not normally need planning permission to replace or add new windows in the original walls of your house — but you may need permission if conditions were attached to the original permission.
Double glazing can be installed under PD, providing the building is not listed.
There are certain limitations with side windows.
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USING ATTACHED BUILDINGS, E.G. GARAGES
Planning permission is not usually required for garage conversions, providing the work is internal and does not involve enlarging the building.
Sometimes permitted development rights have been removed from some properties with regard to garage conversions particularly if you live on a new housing development or in a conservation area. Also, local authorities do have parking standards for housing and do have reservations on removing parking spaces in certain situations. Need help, get in touch.
Where work is proposed to a listed building, listed building consent may be required.
SINGLE STOREY EXTENSIONS & CONSERVATORIES
You can build various single storey extensions including conservatories without planning permission, providing the extension accords with the certain conditions.
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ROOFLIGHTS
Alterations can be made to the roof of a dwelling under PD. However rooflights are not permitted under PD where they would extend forward of the roof plane on the elevation fronting a highway, they are permitted providing they do not project more than 15cm from the roof slope. Rooflights are not permitted on a dwelling which is located in a Conservation Area or an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
DO I NEED PLANNING PERMISSION??
WHAT CAN I DO WITHOUT NEEDING PLANNING PERMISSION
Under PD you are able to undertake certain projects without needing planning permission, below is a list of the most common:
INTERNAL REMODELLING
If what you propose does not require you to extend the overall footprint of the dwelling, Permitted Development (PD) allows you to carry out the work without obtaining full planning permission. You will, however, need to follow Building Regulations guidance for some aspects such as structural elements and electrical works.