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Restrictions lifted from Property Development
From 1 October 2008 the rules relating to whether permission is needed for householder development such as loft conversions and extensions were changed. The changes are contained within the General Permitted Development Order Amendment
Visual information detailing the changes is available using the interactive house on the Planning Portal.
Rear extensions will no longer have volume limits. Loft conversions continue to have an overall volume cap to control overbearing conversions on larger homes. Examples of the changes are:
- Terraced houses: loft conversions can be up to 20cms (centimeters) back from the eaves of the roof or have a maximum volume of 40m3 (cubic metres). In addition a single or two storey rear extension can go back a maximum of 3m from the original house.
- Semi-detached: loft conversions can be up to 20cms back from the eaves of the roof or have a maximum volume of 50m3. In addition a single or two storey rear extension can go back a maximum of 3m from original house.
- Detached: loft conversions can be up to 20cms back from the eaves of the roof or have a maximum volume of 50m3. In addition a rear extension can either be a single storey extension going 4m back, or two storey one going 3m back from the original house.
The new regulations will also reduce the flood risks caused by surface water run off. New driveways or parking areas over five square metres will require planning permission if they are constructed using surfaces that do not allow allow the water to soak through the ground.
However permeable surfacing will still receive automatic permission. Surface water can be drained using permeable surfaces such as concrete block paving with gaps, porous asphalt or gravel, wheel track only paving or through installation of 'soak-away' systems.
Any previous opinion issued by the Council may not apply after 1 October if the works have not commenced by that date, and a further enquiry should be made.
Permission for a planned extension
Housing and Planning Minister Caroline Flint said: "From today people will find it has become much easier to convert the loft and build on an extension.
"The changes the Government has made will mean about 80,000 households a year no longer have to get planning permission."
Other changes that come into force today mean that people putting in driveways or parking areas of more than five square metres will be exempt from planning permission only if they use materials that allow water to soak through to the ground. The move aims to reduce surface water run-off and to help prevent flooding.
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