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ABOUT

ABOUT THE PLANNING PROCESS

WHAT ARE PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS?

You can make certain minor changes to your house without the need to apply for planning permission to your local authority.  These are called ‘Permitted Development Rights’ and are explained in these handy guides.

If you feel the work you would like to carryout on your property does fall within your permitted development rights APT Design Services always advise the need to apply to your local authority for a ‘Certificate of Lawful Development’.

LAWFUL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATES

If you want to be certain that the existing use of a building is lawful for planning purposes or that your proposal does not require planning permission you can apply for a 'Lawful Development Certificate' (LDC) explained in these handy guides.

It is not compulsory to have an LDC but there may be times when you need one to confirm that the use, operation or activity named in it is lawful for planning control purposes.  Also what it comes to selling on the property having proof that an extension did not need planning can save a lot of wasted time and money in proving this.  There is a statutory fee for this type of application, please see Local Authority Fees

PLANNING PERMISSION

You will probably need planning permission of you want to:

  • Build something new
  • Make a major change to your building e.g. building and extension (see permitted development rights)
  • Change the use of your building.

If your project needs planning permission and you carryout the work without obtaining the relevant consent, you can be served an ‘enforcement notice’ ordering you to undo all the changes you have made.

If you are unsure if your project falls within your permitted development rights or you require full planning, contact APT Design Services and we can advise you.

There is a statutory fee for any type of application, please see Local Authority Fees

Permitted

Development

Rights

Two Storey

Extension

Permitted

Development

Rights

Single Storey

Extension

Permitted

Development

Rights

Loft

Conversion

Permitted

Development

Rights

Porches

Permitted

Development

Rights

Outbuildings

Permitted

Development

Rights

Conservatories

Listed

Building

Consent

Explained

Local

Authority

Planning

Fees

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:

Solar equipment mounted on a house:

Stand alone solar equipment

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:

DECKING

Putting up decking, or other raised platforms, in your garden is permitted development, not needing an application for planning permission, providing:

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.

Download our Handy Mini Guide for more information

PORCHES

The planning rules for porches are applicable to any external door to the dwelling-house.  Adding a porch to any external door of your house is considered to be permitted development, not requiring an application for planning permission, provided:

Download our Handy Mini Guide for more information

TWO STOREY EXTENSIONS

A two-storey extension can only be built under PD if it is at the rear of the dwelling, this includes the addition of a second storey onto an existing single storey part of the house.  

Download our Handy Mini Guide for more information

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:

Download our Handy Mini Guide for more information

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.

Need help? get in touch

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.

Download our Handy Mini Guides for more information

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.