Loft Conversions Permitted Development 

If your Loft Conversion falls under your permitted development rights then you will not need to apply for planning consent from your local council. However, the following  restrictions must be observed: 

1. On designated land, loft conversions will not be a Permitted Development 
2. To be a Permitted Development any additional roof space created must not exceed  these volume allowances: 

40m3 on terraced or semi-detached houses, 50m3 on detached houses 

3. Permitted Developments do not include extending proud of the existing roof slope plane on the front elevation if it faces a road. 
4. Use materials which appear similar to the existing property. 
5. Your extension cannot be higher than the highest point on the existing roof. 6. Permitted Developments do not include balconies, verandas or raised platforms.
6. A side window should be obscured and not able to be opened, unless the opening mechanism is situated at least 1.7m above its respective room floor. 
7. Roof extensions should be set back, as far as reasonably feasible by at least 20cm from the eaves, unless it is a hip or gable roof (measure the 20cm along the plane of the roof). The roof extension should not hang over the wall of the house. 
8. Your roof or loft project might have an impact on any existing bats. For this kind of work, you will need a survey and possibly a licence to proceed. 
   

Front Porches & Outbuildings Permitted Development 

Many homeowners need additional space, and we find that a common trait of all of our projects is the need for an extended porch or a new outbuilding. You may be in luck, as these are considered within permitted development rules if the following rules are followed! 

Porch Extensions: 

1. The total area of the porch must not exceed 3m2 (measured externally). 
2. No part of the extended porch shall be greater than 3m from the existing ground level. 
3. No part of the porch should be within 2m of the public highway (including pedestrian walkways). 

Outbuildings: 

1. No outbuilding should be constructed on land forward of the principal (front)  elevation. 
2. Outbuildings and garages should be built to a height of no more than 2.5m at the eaves and a maximum of 4m if dual-pitched. If any other roof type is proposed, this should have a maximum height of 3m.
3. When within 2m of a shared boundary, the maximum height of the outbuilding should be 2.5m. 
4. No verandas, balconies or raised platforms are considered to be permitted development. Raised platforms will need planning permission if over 30cm height from the existing ground level. 
5. No more than 50% of the land surrounding the dwelling should be covered by outbuildings. 
6. No outbuilding can be forward of the original dwelling. In Wales and Northern  Ireland, the same applies unless the resulting building would be more than 20m from the road. 
7. In Wales and Northern Ireland any outbuildings closer to the house than 5m count as extensions. In Scotland any outbuildings larger than 4m² and closer to the dwelling  than 5m count as extensions 

Additional Alterations Permitted Development 

Other elements of construction that are often considered to be permitted development  (not requiring planning permission) include: 

1. Solar panels (other than on the front roof slope). 
2. Replacement of doors/windows. 
3. Repairs to the property including any walls and the roof. 
4. Additional skylights/roof windows or dormer windows – subject to the volume increase allowance for your type of building (See loft conversions permitted development). 

It is important to always check if you are in a conservation area or other designated land if you are looking to make these changes, as even though they may seem minor,  you may not have access to permitted development rights if so!

What is the Larger Home Extension Scheme/Prior Approval &  how does this affect my PD rights? 

In 2019, the UK government announced their plan to introduce the ‘Larger Home  Extensions Scheme’, allowing homeowners to extend their property by even more than the previous permitted development guidelines allowed – WITHOUT applying for full planning permission. This decision was made to allow families the freedom to grow without being forced to move house, by extending their home to meet their requirements without having to battle their local planning authority for the right to do so. 

In 2020, the government saw the great potential and effectiveness of the then temporary allowance, and in fact proclaimed that the scheme be extended indefinitely,  realising the huge potential that it had for the benefit of both the people and the economy. 

Nowadays, the larger home extensions scheme is a branch of your permitted development rights, also known as prior approval, which comes with several additional criteria to meet before building your dream extension. Essentially, it is important to note that the normal permitted development rights have remained the same, but homeowners are given the opportunity to apply for prior approval from their neighbours  (not your local council – a common misconception) to extend further. For example, for a terraced or semi-detached house, you could extend up to 6m instead of just 3m, and for a detached house, you could extend up to 8m instead of 4m! 

Permitted Development Technical Guidance 

The UK government has provided technical guidance on permitted development,  which includes detailed information on what changes are allowed and what conditions must be met. This guidance is intended to help homeowners understand their rights and obligations when making changes to their properties. 

In London, permitted development rules are subject to a number of additional restrictions and requirements, due to the city’s unique planning challenges. For 

example, in some parts of London, the government has introduced Article 4 directions,  which remove certain types of permitted development rights in order to preserve the character of the area. 

The technical guidance on permitted development covers a wide range of topics, including  the following: 

Extensions and conservatories: The guidance sets out the maximum dimensions for extensions and conservatories that can be built without planning permission, as well as other requirements such as the materials that can be used. 

Roof alterations: Homeowners are allowed to make certain types of alterations to their roofs without planning permission, such as installing roof lights or skylights. The guidance sets out the specific conditions that must be met. 

Change of use: In some cases, homeowners may be able to change the use of their property without planning permission, such as converting a garage into a living space.  The guidance sets out the specific conditions that must be met. 

Outbuildings: Homeowners are allowed to build certain types of outbuildings without planning permission, such as sheds and summerhouses. The guidance sets out the maximum dimensions and other requirements that must be met. 

Permitted development rights in conservation areas: Homeowners in conservation areas are subject to additional restrictions on permitted development. The guidance sets out the specific conditions that must be met in order to carry out certain types of changes. 

It is important to note that even if a proposed change falls within the permitted development rules, it may still be subject to other regulations, such as building regulations or health and safety requirements. Homeowners are advised to seek professional advice before undertaking any major changes to their properties.

Can I Convert an Existing Building Under Permitted  Development? 

Under Permitted Development, existing buildings – such as offices, barns and other agricultural buildings – can be converted into homes. 

Agricultural Buildings and Barn Conversions 

In March 2013 a new system was introduced to allow the conversion of barns into dwellings. Permission would still be required via the prior approvals process, but it created the potential for more conversion opportunities than before. Read more here. 

Former Office Buildings 

In an attempt to release inner-city land for housing, the next change in Permitted  Development was an announcement in May 2013 to allow offices to be converted to residential. This was set to expire in 2016, but in October 2015 it was declared that these rights would be made permanent. 

Permitted Development for Balconies and Driveways 

• Balconies, verandas and raised platforms (above 300mm) do not fall under Permitted  Development rights • You will also now need planning permission to construct a drive from non-porous materials such as tarmac. But you can construct a new drive of porous materials, or  non-porous if provision for drainage is provided on the property, under Permitted  Development

Exceptions to Permitted Development Rights 2022 

In many cases, permitted development rights can be a sure way to achieving your extension goals, however, they do not always apply. Common exemptions to the use  of permitted development rights include: 

1. Properties in a Conservation Area – If your home or business is situated in a  conservation area, this means that your local council has restricted the rights to develop in order to reduce the impacts of development on the protected character of the area. 
2. Flats or Maisonettes – Permitted development rights do not apply in the cases of extensions/alterations to flats or maisonettes, predominantly due to the need for freeholder consent and the impact on your neighbours of any development. 
3. Change of use between different use classes  
4. New Homes – When creating one or more new residential units, permitted development rights do not apply. You will therefore need prior consent from your local council to build a new house or convert a single dwelling into flats. 
5. Buildings with a specific use outside of residential homes. 
6. Areas where there may be a blanket planning condition, such as an Article 4  Direction, limiting permitted development rights in any given area.