Bespoke Lofts Where Quality Matters & Experience Shows

Planning Permission for House Extensions

Under new regulations that came  into effect on 1 October 2008 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.

* 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.

* Designated land includes  national parks and the Broads, Areas of  Outstanding Natural Beauty, conservation areas and World Heritage Sites.

Building Regulations

Most extensions of properties  require approval under the Building Regulations.

Our team of  builders has a great deal of experience building house extensions, particularly  in and around London.  We are very familiar with the  stringent rules and regulations required with planning permission applications  and of working with a number of different local authorities.

Combining your ideas  with our knowledge and understanding of the planning requirements in your area,  we can invariably eliminate any planning problems that may occur before the  final plans for your extension are drawn and submitted.