You can extend or ad to your
house without the need to apply for planning permission provided
you meet a new set of limits and conditions that came into force in
1st October 2008 – sometimes referred to as permitted development
rights.
An extension or addition to your house is
considered to be permitted development, not requiring an
application for planning permission, subject to the following
limits and conditions:
•No more than half the area of land
around the “original house”* would be covered by additions or other
buildings.
•No extension forward of the principal
elevation or side elevation fronting a highway.
•No extension to be higher than the
highest part of the roof.
•Maximum depth of a single-storey rear
extension of three metres beyond the rear wall for an attached
house and four metres beyond the rear wall for a detached
house.
•Maximum height of a single-storey rear
extension of four metres.
•Maximum depth of a rear extension of
more than one storey of three metres beyond the rear wall including
ground floor.
•Maximum eaves height of an extension
within two metres of the boundary of three
metres.
•Maximum eaves and ridge height of
extension no higher than existing house.
•Side extensions to be single storey
with maximum height of four metres and width no more than half that
of the original house.
•Two-storey extensions no closer than
seven metres to rear boundary.
•Roof pitch of extensions higher than
one storey to match existing house.
•Materials to be similar in appearance
to the existing house.
•No verandas, balconies or raised
platforms.
•Upper-floor, side-facing windows to be
obscure-glazed; any opening to be 1.7m above the
floor.
•On designated land* no permitted
development for rear extensions of more than one
storey.
•On designated land no cladding of the
exterior.
•On designated land no side
extensions.
* Designated land includes national parks and
the Broads, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, conservation areas
and World Heritage Site.