Many people in the United Kingdom are thinking about adding an extension or loft conversion to their home this year rather than move but what seems to put a lot of people off is acquiring planning permission.
Sometimes, you don’t need planning permission as permitted development rights already exist and you can get away without further permissions.
The rules changed a few years ago and, if you stick to the guidelines, you may not always need further planning permission to extend your home.
You don’t need planning permission if:
a) You don’t cover more than half the area of land around the original house i.e. as it stood when first built.
b) Your extension isn’t forward of the front of the house i.e. principal elevation of the house
c) A single storey can be increased to a maximum of 3 or 4m in height depending on whether it’s a terraced, semi or detached house.
d) A loft conversion can go up to 40 – 50 cubic metres depending on if it’s a terraced, semi or detached property.
Just remember that listed buildings have different rules applied so you need to check with your local authority on those!
