Extending Your House
The general planning principles and the procedures for making a planning application described in this guide apply equally to owners of houses and to freeholders or leaseholders of flats and maisonettes. However, the rules that say when you need to apply for planning permission will differ according to whether you own a house or a flat/maisonette.
Extensions/Additions
You need to apply for planning permission to extend or add to your house in the following circumstances.
1. You want to build an addition which would be nearer to any highway than the nearest part of the "original house", unless there would be at least 20 metres between your house (as extended) and the highway. The term "highway" includes all public roads, footpaths, bridleways and byways. (There are special rules for porches.)
2. More than half the area of land around the "original house" would be covered by additions or other buildings.
The term "original house" means the house as it was first built or as it stood on 1 July 1948 (if it was built before that date). Although you may not have built an extension to the house, a previous owner may have done so.
You will also need to apply for planning permission if the extension or addition exceeds certain limits on height or volume.
Porches
You will need to apply for planning permission if the porch:
1. would have a ground area (measured externally) of more than 3 square metres;
2. would be higher than 3 metres above ground level (height needs to be measured in the same way as for a house extension); or
3. would be less than 2 metres away from the boundary of a dwelling house with a highway (which includes all public roads, footpaths, bridleways and byways).
You do not need to apply for planning permission:
1. for repairs or maintenance;
2. for minor improvements, such as painting your house or replacing windows;
3. for internal alterations;
4. for the insertion of windows, skylights or roof lights (but, if you want to create a new bay window, it will be treated as an extension of the house);
5. for the installation of solar panels which, in the council's view, do not project significantly beyond the roof slope; and
6. to re-roof your house (but additions to the roof are treated as extensions to the house).
Maintenance
Occasionally, you may need to apply for planning permission for some of these works because your council has made an Article 4 Direction withdrawing permitted development rights.
If you live in a listed building, you will need listed building consent for any significant works whether internal or external . You also may need planning permission to alter, repair or maintain a gate, fence, wall or other means of enclosure.
If you live in a Conservation Area, a National Park, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or the Broads, you will need to apply for planning permission before cladding the outside of your house with stone, tiles, artificial stone, plastic or timber.
The general planning principles and the procedures for making a planning application described in this guide apply equally to owners of houses and to freeholders or leaseholders of flats and maisonettes. However, the rules that say when you need to apply for planning permission will differ according to whether you own a house or a flat/maisonette.
Extensions/Additions
You need to apply for planning permission to extend or add to your house in the following circumstances.
1. You want to build an addition which would be nearer to any highway than the nearest part of the "original house", unless there would be at least 20 metres between your house (as extended) and the highway. The term "highway" includes all public roads, footpaths, bridleways and byways. (There are special rules for porches.)
2. More than half the area of land around the "original house" would be covered by additions or other buildings.
The term "original house" means the house as it was first built or as it stood on 1 July 1948 (if it was built before that date). Although you may not have built an extension to the house, a previous owner may have done so.
You will also need to apply for planning permission if the extension or addition exceeds certain limits on height or volume.
Porches
You will need to apply for planning permission if the porch:
1. would have a ground area (measured externally) of more than 3 square metres;
2. would be higher than 3 metres above ground level (height needs to be measured in the same way as for a house extension); or
3. would be less than 2 metres away from the boundary of a dwelling house with a highway (which includes all public roads, footpaths, bridleways and byways).
You do not need to apply for planning permission:
1. for repairs or maintenance;
2. for minor improvements, such as painting your house or replacing windows;
3. for internal alterations;
4. for the insertion of windows, skylights or roof lights (but, if you want to create a new bay window, it will be treated as an extension of the house);
5. for the installation of solar panels which, in the council's view, do not project significantly beyond the roof slope; and
6. to re-roof your house (but additions to the roof are treated as extensions to the house).
Maintenance
Occasionally, you may need to apply for planning permission for some of these works because your council has made an Article 4 Direction withdrawing permitted development rights.
If you live in a listed building, you will need listed building consent for any significant works whether internal or external . You also may need planning permission to alter, repair or maintain a gate, fence, wall or other means of enclosure.
If you live in a Conservation Area, a National Park, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or the Broads, you will need to apply for planning permission before cladding the outside of your house with stone, tiles, artificial stone, plastic or timber.
