Permitted development
Works that can be carried out without planning permission, are called permitted development rights, and include:
- alterations and maintenance to a building
- certain minor works, including small extensions to houses.
For more details on permitted development rights, visit the Planning Portal.
Improvements you can make under permitted development:
- building a porch
- carrying out internal alterations
- converting and occupy roof space
- installing solar panels
- installing a satellite dish
- putting in a roof light or dormer windows
- new doors or windows
- side and rear extensions
- loft conversions
- outbuildings
- decking under 30cm high off the ground
- garage conversions
- construction of a new driveway of porous materials, or non-porous if provision for drainage is provided on the property.
Any new dwellinghouse will only be eligible for permitted development rights if it has a gross internal floor area of at least 37 square metres, and complies with the nationally described space standard.
However, where planning permission is not required, it may be necessary to get separate approval under building regulations or listed building consent.Conversion of Non-Domestic Buildings into Homes
Under Permitted Development, existing buildings – such as offices, barns and other agricultural buildings – can be converted into homes.
Agricultural Buildings and Barn Conversions
The introduction of a new system allows for the conversion of barns into dwellings. Permission would still be required however.
Former Office Buildings
Another change in ‘permitted development’ allows for offices to be converted to residential use in an attempt to release inner-city land for housing
Permitted development allows for some works to be carried out without planning permission.
Restricted development
In some parts of the country permitted development rights are more restricted:
- Conservation Area
- a national park
- an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
- a World Heritage Site
- the Norfolk or Suffolk Broads
For more details on permitted development rights, visit the Planning Portal.
What isn’t permitted development?
- Balconies, verandas and raised platforms (above 300mm)
- Construction of a drive from non-porous materials such as tarmac.
What requires planning permission?
- Altering a listed building
- altering the street-facing elevation
- dividing a property into two
- extending a home that has used its permitted development allocation
- remodelling or extended on designated land, such as Conservation Areas or Areas of Outstanding National Beauty
- extending near boundaries
- building a new house
- outbuildings
Unauthorised works
If you build something which needs planning permission without obtaining permission first, you may be forced to make changes later. This could prove to be very costly and may even result in legal action to require removal of the unauthorised works.Related Information
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