As from 1st October 2008, the laws on planning permission have been relaxed and simplified.

This page summarises the changes and how they could impact on your business.

Given the current state of the economy, it’s widely felt that more people will stay in their existing properties rather than move, and are therefore more likely to spend on DIY and extending their homes.

The new laws make it easier to develop a property, without having to go through the often lengthy process of applying for planning permission.

The information here is an overview of the amendments made to planning laws, and should not be used as a definitive source of legal information. For comprehensive planning law details, we advise you to contact your local planning authority.

Alternatively, visit www.planningportal.gov.uk.

THREE KEY AREAS OF CHANGE

There are three key areas of change relevant to the building trade:

You can now add to or extend your home without the need to apply for planning permission provided you meet a new set of limits and conditions.

Limits to home extension permission

Limits to what is considered a permitted extension apply, depending on size, proximity to boundaries and type of land, etc. Such conditions include the following:

• 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 3 metres for an attached house and 4 metres for a detached house
• Maximum height of a single-storey rear extension of 4 metres
• Maximum depth of a rear extension with more than one storey of 3 metres including ground floor
• Maximum eaves height of an extension within 2 metres of the boundary of 3 metres
• Maximum eaves and ridge height of extension no higher than existing house
• Side extensions to be single storey with maximum height of 4 metres and width no more than half that of the original house
• Two-storey extensions no closer than 7 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
• Special restrictions apply to land such as national parks and conservation areas

Decking

Adding decking does not require planning permission providing that the decking is not more than 30cm above the ground and does not cover more than 50% of the garden area.

Conservatories, garages and lofts

Conservatories are considered the same as any extension for the purposes of planning permission laws. Refer to the advice above.

Provided that any garage conversion work does not involve the enlarging of the space, these conversions are also permitted without planning (unless rights have been removed e.g. new developments or conservation areas).

Subject to the conditions below, loft conversions are now to be considered permitted developments:

• 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 beyond the plane of the existing 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
• Roof extensions, apart from hip to gable ones, to be set back, as far as practicable, at least 20cm from the eaves
• Roof extensions not to be permitted development in areas such as national parks or conservation areas

Fences, walls and gates

Homeowners will need to apply for planning permission if they wish to build or add to a fence, wall or gate if:

• It will be over 1 metre high and next to a highway used by vehicles (or the footpath of such a highway); or over 2 metres high elsewhere
• The right to put up or alter fences, walls and gates is removed by an Article 4 direction or a planning condition*
• The house is a listed building or in the curtilage of a listed building
• The fence, wall or gate, or any other boundary involved, forms a boundary with a neighbouring listed building or its cartilage

Planning permission is NOT required to take down a fence, wall, or gate, or to alter or improve an existing fence, wall or gate as long as its height is not increased. In a conservation area, however, permission may be needed.

*Article 4 directions are most commonly applied to conservation areas.

Planning permission is not required if the driveway uses permeable or porous surfacing such as gravel, permeable concrete block paving or porous asphalt, or if rainwater is directed to a lawn or border to drain.

Permission WILL be required for new driveways over 5 square metres made from impermeable materials that do not control rainwater.

Jewson has a comprehensive range of drainage products and porous driveway materials, and can provide advice on the right product to use for every application.

 

Jewson can provide a range of renewable energy products and solutions – the good news is that the installation of many of these products does not require planning permission. Please enquire in-branch if we can be of assistance.

Heat Pumps

Installing a ground-source heat pump does not usually require permission. Air source heat pumps should observe standards relating to safety and noise.

Biomass Fuel Appliances

Planning permission is not required where the work is internal. Permission for outside flues will be granted providing the following conditions are met:

• Flues on the rear or side elevation of the building are allowed to a maximum of one metre above the highest part of the roof
• If the building is listed or in a designated area the homeowner should check with the local planning authority. Consent is also likely to be needed for internal alterations.
• In a conservation area or in a World Heritage Site the flue should not be fitted on the principal or side elevation if it would be visible from a highway.

Solar Panels

Adding solar panels to a property is permitted with the following limitations:

Roof or Wall Mounted Solar Panels

• Panels should not be installed above the ridgeline and should project no more than 200mm from the roof or wall surface
• If the property is a listed building installation is likely to require an application for listed building consent
• If the property is in a conservation area, or in a World Heritage Site, planning consent is required when panels are to be fitted on the principal or side elevation walls and they are visible from the highway. If panels are to be fitted to a building in the garden or grounds they should not be visible from the highway.

Standalone Solar Panels

• Should be no higher than 4 metres
• Should be at least 5 metres from boundaries
• Size of array is limited to 9sq m or 3m wide and 3m deep
• Should not be installed within the boundary of a listed building
• In the case of land in a conservation area or in a World Heritage Site, it should not be visible from the highway
• Only one stand alone solar installation is permitted
• Visit www.planningportal.gov.uk for more information

Solar thermal collectors and photovoltaic systems are available through your local Jewson branch.

Wind turbines

Presently these DO require planning permission.

When requesting permission, homeowners should be advised to consider:

• Visual impact
• Noise
• Vibration
• Electrical interference (with TV aerials)
• Safety

Click the image below for some ideas that could be good for your business.