Planning permission is not normally required for work to maintain foundations, however if you live in a listed building you should check with the planning team.
Paving your front garden
You don’t need planning permission to build or replace a driveway if:
the hard surface to be replaced would exceed 5 square metres
you use permeable (or porous) surfacing, e.g. gravel, permeable concrete block paving or porous asphalt
the rainwater flows to a lawn or border to drain naturally
If you live in a listed building, you should check with us.
If you cover more than five square metres using traditional materials that don’t let water through, you need planning permission.
These rules apply to the area of land between the front walls of the house and the highway.
Manhole and drains
Although the work itself may not require planning permission you should clarify ownership and responsibility before modifying or carrying out maintenance.
Drains, sewers and manholes may be shared with neighbours or owned by the relevant water authority.
Failure to confirm these details or to comply with relevant standards/legislation could lead to legal and remedial action at your own cost.
Roof window / roof light
New roof lights or skylights will not normally require an application for planning permission providing:
they are no higher than the highest part of the roof
they do not protrude more than 15cm(150mm) beyond the plane of the roof slope which faces a road and/or forms either the principle or side elevation of the dwelling
if they are on the side elevation roof slope they must be obscure-glazed and either non opening or more than 1.7 metres above the floor level
they are not any closer than 0.5 metres to the ridge of the existing roof, or eaves, or any party wall or verge
However, if additional volume is created it may be treated as an extension and separate rules will apply.
Note: Measurements should always be calculated using external measurements.
Enlargement, improvement or other alterations to roof
You will need to apply for planning permission if:
any part of the extension will be higher than the highest part of the roof
any part of the extension/ alteration protrudes more than 15cm beyond the plane of the roof slope which faces a road and/or forms either the principle or side elevation of the dwelling
any part of the extension will be closer than 0.5 metres to the ridge of the existing roof, or eaves, or any party wall or verge
it would consist of or include the construction or provision of a deck, balcony, veranda or other raised platformit would consist of or include the installation, alteration or replacement of a chimney, flue or soil and vent pipe
it would consist of or include the installation, alteration or replacement of a microwave antenna
Dormer windows
The internal alterations to convert a roof space to provided additional accommodation do not require planning permission but may building control approval.
However, installing dormer windows or carrying out other alterations to the roof may require planning permission.
No part of the dormer window can be higher than the ridge line of the existing house. Materials used must match the existing dwelling house. Side windows must be obscure-glazed and non-opening below 1.7 metres.
Please be minded that:
the materials used in any exterior work shall be of similar appearance to those used in the construction of the exterior of the existing dwelling house
any window inserted on a wall or roof slope forming a side elevation of the dwellinghouse, which is within 15 metres of any boundary of the curtilage of a neighbouring dwellinghouse, shall be obscure glazed; and non-opening unless the parts of the window which can be opened are more than 1.7 metres above the floor of the room in which the window is installed
Porch
You will need to apply for planning permission if the porch:
would have a ground area (measured externally) of more than 3 square metres
would be higher than 3 metres above ground level with a flat or mono pitched roof, or 3.5 metres with a dual pitched roof, or
would be less than 2 metres away from the boundary of a dwellinghouse with a highway (which includes all public roads, footpaths, bridleways and byways)
Solar panels
Roof mounted
You will need to apply for planning permission if:
any part of the solar panel or solar thermal equipment would protrude more than 20 centimetres beyond the plane of any existing roof slope which faces onto and is visible from a road
any part of the solar panel or solar thermal equipment would exceed the height of the highest part of any existing ridged roof; or 1.5 metres above the plane of any flat roof
Wall mounted
You will need to apply for planning permission if:
any part of the solar panel or solar thermal equipment installed within 3 metres of the boundary of the curtilage of the dwellinghouse and exceeding 4 metres in height
if any part of the solar panel or solar thermal equipment extends more than 20 centimetres beyond the plane of the wall
any part of the solar panel or solar thermal equipment when installed would extend beyond the boundary of the wall
any part of the solar panel or solar thermal equipment installed on the wall of a chimney would exceed the height of the highest part of the roof
Standalone
You will need to apply for planning permission if:
it would result in the presence within the curtilage of more than one stand alone solar
the area of the stand alone solar would exceed 14 square metres
any part of the stand alone solar would exceed 2 metres in height
any part of the stand alone solar would be nearer to a road which bounds the curtilage than the part of the dwellinghouse nearest to that road
Wind turbines
No content...
External materials
You do not need to apply for planning permission for repairs, maintenance or minor improvements, such as painting your house.
If you live in a listed building, you will need listed building consent for any significant works whether internal or external. If you live in a Conservation Area, contact your looking planning office for advice in advance of the works
Works including extensions and alterations require materials to match existing.
Fences, gates and garden walls
You will need to apply for planning permission if:
the height of any gate, fence, wall or other means of enclosure erected or constructed adjacent to a road used or designed to be used by vehicular traffic exceeds 1 metre above ground level
the height of any other gate, fence, wall or means of enclosure erected or constructed exceeds 2 metres above ground level
an existing fence, wall or gate already exceeds the limits above, that its height would not be increased
Flue, chimney and soil or vent pipes
You will need to apply for planning permission if:
the height of the chimney, flue or soil and vent pipe would exceed the highest part of the roof by 1 metre or more
Swimming pools
You will need to apply for planning permission if:
the total area of ground covered by the buildings or enclosures within the curtilage (other than the original dwellinghouse) would exceed 50% of the total area of the curtilage
any part of the pool would be situated on land forward of a wall which faces onto a road and forms either the principal elevation or a side elevation of the original dwellinghouse
the building or enclosure would exceed 4 metres in height (within 2 metres of the boundary of the curtilage of the dwellinghouse the eaves height would exceed 2.5 metres)
any part of the building or enclosure would be within 3.5 metres of the boundary of the curtilage of the dwellinghouse with a road opposite the rear wall of the dwelling house
it would consist of or include the construction or provision of a deck, balcony, veranda or other raised platform
it would involve the installation, alteration or replacement of a microwave antenna
it would involve development for use as a dwellinghouse
Oil storage
You will need to apply for planning permission if:
the capacity of the container would exceed 3,500 litres
any part of the container would be more than 3 metres above ground level
any part of the container would be situated on land beyond a wall which faces onto a road; and forms either the principal elevation or a side elevation of the original dwellinghouse
any part of the container would be within 2 metres of the boundary of the curtilage of the dwellinghouse with a road opposite the rear wall of the dwellinghouse
Microwave antenna
You will need to apply for planning permission if:
it would result in more than two antennas
it would result in a single antenna exceeding 100 centimetres in length
it would result in two antennas which do not meet the relevant size criteria
it would result in an antenna installed on a chimney, where the length of the antenna would exceed 60 centimetres
it would result in an antenna installed on a chimney, where the antenna would protrude above the chimney
it would result in an antenna with a cubic capacity in excess of 35 litres
the antenna to be installed is on a roof without a chimney, the highest part of the antenna would be higher than the highest part of the roof
the antenna to be installed is on a roof with a chimney, the highest part of the antenna would be higher than the highest part of the chimney, or 60 centimetres measured from the highest part of the ridge tiles of the roof, whichever is the lower
Conservatory, sun room, orangerie
A conservatory is treated exactly the same as any other extension under planning regulations, regardless of the materials used.
There are conditions and limits to what is allowed without the need for planning permission, and these apply largely to the dimensions of the proposed addition, its position on the house and its proximity to your boundaries.
Rear extensions
You can often extend or add to your house without the need to apply for planning permission provided you meet a set of limits and conditions.
The regime for what is allowed without planning permission applies largely to the dimensions of the proposed extension, its position on the house and its proximity to your boundaries.
You will also need to apply for planning permission if more than half the area of land around the “original house” would be covered by additions or other buildings.
NOTE: The extension featured here is for illustrative purposes only. Extensions such as these would not meet the conditions of the permitted development rights and would require planning permission.
Rear Extensions
Development is permitted if:
the total area covered by buildings does not exceed 50% of the curtilage
the height of the extension does not exceed the highest part of the existing roof
the extension does not extend beyond a wall facing a road
the extension is not more than one storey and does not extend beyond the rear wall by more than 3 meters
the extension is not within 2 meters of the boundary and the eaves height does not exceed 3 meters
It does not include a balcony, veranda, or raised platform
In a single storey extension:
the extension does not extend beyond the rear wall of the original house by more than 4 metres for a detached house, or 3 metres for any other type of house (eg. Semi-detached or terraced house)
the height of the extension does not exceed 4 metres
no part of the extension is within 3.5 metres of any property boundary with a road opposite the rear wall of the house
In an extension with more than one storey:
the extension does not extend beyond the rear wall of the original house by more than 3 metres
no part of the extension is within 7 metres of the property boundary opposite the rear wall of the house
the roof pitch of the extension is as far as practicable the same as the roof pitch of the original house
Sheds and outbuildings
Many kinds of buildings and structures can be built in your garden or on the land around your house without the need to apply for planning permission.
Planning permission is required provided if:
the shed/greenhouse/building is not used for domestic purposes only
the development would be used as a dwelling house
the ground area covered by the shed/greenhouse/building and any other buildings within the boundary of the property, excluding the original house, is more than half the total area of the property
part of the shed/greenhouse/building is in front of the principal/front or side elevation of the original house that faces onto a road
the height of the shed/greenhouse/building is more than 4 metres
the height of the shed/greenhouse/building is 2.5 metres, if it is within 2 metres of the property boundary
part of the shed/greenhouse/building is within 3.5 metres of the boundary with a road to the rear of the house
the development would include a deck, balcony, veranda or other raised platform
the building is used for the keeping of pigeons
the development would include the installation, alteration or replacement of a microwave antenna
Air source heat pump
Planning permission is required if:
the development would result in the presence of more than one air source heat pump within the curtilage of the house
part of the air source heat pump is located over 30 metres from the house (other than where an air source heat pump is being installed, altered or replaced)
part of the air source heat pump is situated on land forward of a wall which faces the road and forms either the principal/front or side elevation of the house
the height of the air source heat pump exceeds 2 metres
the pump is located on a roof
Biomass fuel containers
Planning permission is required if:
an above ground container exceeds 6,500 litres in capacity, or more would be more than 3 metres above ground level in height
part of the container is closer to a road than the part of the house nearest the road
Flues for biomass or combined heat and power system
Planning permission is required if:
the height of the flue is more than 1 metre higher than the highest part of the roof
Ground or water source heat pumps
Planning permission is required if:
part of the pump or its housing which is within 3 metres of the boundary of the house exceeds 4 metres in height
part of the pump or its housing is closer to a road than the part of the house nearest the road
