Permitted Development Rights

Unless you live in a Listed Building, Conservation Area, Green belt, or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, you will not usually need to apply for planning permission if you do not exceed the permitted development rights for your property. You will usually be able to extend a detached property by four metres and an attached property by three metres (See below for exemptions).

However, if your property has been extended in the past you will have used some of your permitted development rights, or perhaps all of them, and may need planning permission to extend further.

New rules on Permitted Development Rights only came into force in October 2008 and have been temporarily modified again on the 30th May 2013, for a period of 3 years. However, they can be interpreted in different ways by local authorities, so it is sensible to check that your planned conservatory meets local requirements.

The current temporary rules only apply if you don’t live in a Listed Building, Conservation Area, Green belt, or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

NOTE: In many cases Permitted Development to beyond 4m on a detached house, of up to 8m and beyond 3m on a terraced or semi-detached house, of up to 6m is now allowed for a period of just three years from the 30th May 2013. There are restrictions and you should read the detail on the Planning Portal. This is known as the neighbour consultation scheme.
Click here to download a document detailing the new size limits and the neighbour consultation scheme