Call 07838135957

Changes to Permitted Development Rights for Householders

1 Purpose

1.1 To inform Members of the changes to the permitted development rights for houses, which will be effective from 1 October 2008.

2 Background

2.1 As explained in the Planning Handbook, planning permission is required for “development”, but this is complicated most notably by Permitted Development rights (PD). These ‘rights’ principally stem from a Government Order (‘The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order, 1995’) and, amongst other things, allow people to extend their homes within certain limits without having to apply for planning permission.

2.2 After considering various potential alterations to the PD regime over several years, central government has now agreed changes to the PD rights for householders, and these will come into effect from 1 October 2008.

3 Briefing

3.1 Planning permission will not be required at a house (note: these rights only apply to houses and not to flats), under normal circumstances, for the development summarised below, subject to the limits and conditions listed:

Class A – Extensions & Improvements

Permitted development, subject to the following limits and conditions:

· 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 for an attached house, and four metres for a detached house;

· Maximum depth of a rear extension of more than one storey of three metres, including ground floor;

· On article 1(5) – land; no permitted development for rear extensions of more than one storey;

· Maximum eaves height of extension three metres within two metres of boundary;

· 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;

· Side facing windows to be obscure-glazed; any opening to be 1.7 metres above the floor;

· On article 1(5) – land; no cladding of the exterior;

· On article 1(5) – land; no side extensions.

Class B – Roof Extensions

Permitted development subject to the following limits and conditions:

· 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 facing onto and visible from 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 1.7 metres above the floor;

· Roof extensions not to be permitted development in designated areas;

· Extensions to be set back, as far as practicable, at least 20 centimetres from the eaves.
 
Class C – Roof Alterations

Permitted development subject to the following limits and conditions:

 · Any alteration to project no more than 150 millimetres from the existing roof plane;

· No alteration to be higher than the highest part of the roof;

· Side facing windows to be obscure-glazed; any opening to be 1.7 metres above the floor.

Class D – Porches

 No change to existing permitted development.

Class E – Outbuildings, Enclosures, Swimming Pools and Oil and Gas Containers

Permitted development subject to the following limits and conditions:

· No building, enclosure, pool or container forward of the principal elevation fronting a highway;

· Buildings to be single storey, with maximum eaves height of 2.5 metres and maximum overall height of four metres with a dual pitched roof, or three metres for any other roof;

· Maximum height 2.5 metres within two metres of a boundary;

· No verandas, balconies or raised platforms;

· Maximum 50 per cent coverage of garden;

· In National Parks, the Broads, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and World Heritage Sites the maximum area to be covered by buildings, enclosures, containers or pools more than 20 metres from house to be limited to 10 square metres;

· On article 1(5) – land, buildings, enclosures, containers or pools at the side of properties will require planning permission;

· Within the curtilage of listed building,s any outbuilding will require planning permission.

Class F – Hard Surfaces

Permitted Development subject to:

· Any surface installed in the front garden of more than 5m2 to be either porous, or to run-off to a porous or permeable surface.

Class G – Chimneys, Flues and Soil and Vent Pipes

Permitted Development subject to:

· The height being less than 1m above the highest part of the roof;

· On article 1(5) – land; no installation on the principal or a side elevation that fronts a highway.

Class H – Microwave Antenna

No change to existing permitted development.

Part 40, Class G

Solar panels to become permitted development on a principal or side elevation visible from a highway in conservation areas and World Heritage Sites.

3.2 As set out in the Planning Handbook, if in doubt about whether planning permission is needed it is always good practice to contact the Development Control duty officer (01858 828282).

4 Further Information

4.1 For further information, please contact:-

John Domenech

Development Control Manager

Tel: 07838135957

Issue date: October 2008