A new conservatory will add valuable living space to your home, but it is worth checking whether you will need planning permission for your new extension before the construction process begins.
The typical conservatory extension falls within permitted development rights and will not require planning permission from your local planning authority.
However, if you are planning a bespoke creation of your own design, you need to check that your project meets permitted development rules.
We have extensive experience building conservatories and applying for planning permission. For advice, you can contact our team here.
House builders and developers must apply for planning permission from their local planning authority, which will check that new developments are appropriate for the local area.
Your local building control officer will want to check that your new conservatory installation won’t adversely affect your neighbours by being too large or close to the property boundary.
Failure to obtain the correct planning permission for a conservatory can have serious consequences. You may have to remove your conservatory and restore the footprint of your original house.
The following factors will influence whether or not you need to apply for planning permission.
The floor size of your new conservatory must cover less than 50% of the area of your existing house.
Semi-detached homes can be extended up to six metres from their rear wall.
You can extend beyond the rear wall for up to eight metres if you have a detached house.
To avoid a planning permission application for your conservatory, the structure must be a single-storey extension at most four metres in height.
The height must not exceed the roof ridge of your original house, including decorative elements like finials.
Permitted development rights only apply to conservatories attached to the rear wall of a property.
If you want to add a structure to the side or front of your existing house, you must apply for planning permission.
Further rules may apply in conservation areas or designated land in national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty or close to world heritage sites.
You must ensure that the new conservatory’s appearance complements the locality and other buildings in the area. You will also need to show that the materials used and the construction process are not damaging to the environment.
If you are lucky – or unlucky – enough to live in a listed building, you are likely to require a special listed building consent.
Your new conservatory must also comply with building regulations.
Again, the typical conservatory is unlikely to need this type of approval, but you could violate building regulations if you need to create a structural opening in your home or remove external doors or windows as part of the building project.
Building regulations also require that your conservatory is attached to your existing house, has its own independent heating system, is less than thirty square metres in size, and is on ground level.
In addition, you may receive a visit from your local building control officer if building work has been undertaken within three metres of a public sewer.
You can contact your local authority planning office or apply online using the planning portal here.
