PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT

www.planningportal.co.uk/mini_guides

Do I need planning permission? The vast majority of homeowners won’t have to acquire planning permission from the local authority to be able to modify or expand your loft space. Obviously there are specific requirements that must be met in order for your loft conversion to fall within Authorized Development.

These include:

A volume allowance of 40 cubic metres for terraced houses
A volume allowance of 50 cubic metres for detached and semi-detached houses
No extension past the plane of the current roof slope of the principal elevation that fronts the highway
No extension to be higher than the highest part of the roof
Materials to be similar in appearance to the existing house
No verandas, balconies or raised platforms
Side-facing windows to be obscure-glazed
Any opening to be 1.7m above the floor
Dormers are not allowed on a principal elevation that fronts a highway
Roof extensions are not permitted in designated areas (including national parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, conservation areas and World Heritage Sites)
Roof extensions, apart from hip to gable extensions, to be set back as far as practicable at least 20cm from the eaves.

NON-PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT

If for some reason your property doesn’t fall within the allowed development regulations, it doesn’t automatically mean that you won’t be in a position to change or extend the property.

Planning permission is required if:

You’re looking for a small, medium or large dormer in front of the house
You want to use materials that happen to be different to those used on the current property
Your house is within a designated area for instance a national park, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, conservation area or World Heritage Site
You wish to build past the plane of the current roof slope that fronts the highway
You want to build to a higher level than the current roof
You want to build a veranda, balcony or elevated platform