Householder Development

If you live in a house or bungalow, you can normally make certain types of minor changes to your home without needing to apply for planning permission. This right is normally afforded under "Permitted Development Rights". However, these rights have limitations, as well as varying depending on the location of your property and whether your home benefits from these rights in the first place.

Please note: irrespective of whether planning permission is required, approval under Building Regulations may be required, as they are two separate matters.

What is Permitted Development?

From 1st October 2008 new Permitted Development Rights came into force. This made it easier to improve your house or bungalow by relaxing planning controls on smaller extensions. It also introduced new controls over hard surfaces such as driveways, aimed at reducing water run-off which contributes to flooding.

The rights are grouped in the following manner:

• Class A: Extensions and alterations
• Class B: Roof alterations and enlargements
• Class C: Rooflights and other roof alterations
• Class D: Porches
• Class E: Outbuildings, such as sheds and garages, and pools/tanks
• Class F: Hard surfaces, such as patios and driveways
• Class G: Chimneys, flues and soil/vent pipes
• Class H: Aerials and satellite dishes
• Class I: Change of use to a House in Multiple Occupation

To help you understand what you can do under these Classes without making a planning application, the government has produced interactive guides as well as a technical guidance document. In addition, the Council has also produced a summary diagram for householder permitted development.

You can also view the relevant legislation from 2008 which amended Classes A to H, and 2010 which introduced Class I.

Larger home extensions

Under changes to the permitted development rules Class A has been revised to allow larger extensions. Before work can take place the applicant must go down the 'Notification of a Proposed Larger Home Extension' route. For a period of three years, between 30 May 2013 and 30 May 2016, householders will be able to build larger single-storey rear extensions under permitted development.

The size limits will double from 4 metres to 8 metres for detached houses, and from 3 metres to 6 metres for all other houses.

These new larger extensions (i.e. if they extend between 4 and 8 metres, or between 3 and 6 metres) must go through the following process.

You are able to down load the relevant Notification of a Proposed Larger Home Extension application form here.

The Planning Portal has set out guidance on completing the application form which can be viewed here.

You are able to view the Planning Portal Guidance on House extensions with regards to the larger home extensions here, and the relevant legislation can be viewed here which amends Class A.

Still not sure?

The guidance is not an authoritative interpretation of the law. Due to the many permutations which may be involved in considering whether a domestic proposal requires a planning application, it is recommended that initial informal advice be sought from the Planning Control team before starting work. A planning application will usually be required if:

• The proposal works involve a flat/maisonette.
• Permitted Development Rights have been withdrawn at your property by a condition imposed on a previous planning permission or by an Article 4 Direction. This is usually the case on barn conversions, already extended houses in Green Belt or where the dwelling is very close to others
• The property is not exclusively a single dwelling house (e.g. it is a mixed commercial/residential premises)
• The works to be carried out are not within the lawful residential curtilage, usually the garden area of the property. Any land which has been 'added' to your curtilage will normally have Permitted Development Rights withdrawn.
• If your home is a Listed Building or contains Listed structures within its curtilage, then Listed Building Consent may also be required.

The Development Control service has a free Pre-Application Enquiry Service if you are still unsure as to whether to you require a planning application, and in these circumstances, we advise you to complete the Council's Householder Enquiry form. If a planning application is required, you can make your application online.

Other types of Householder Development and relevant information

Further advice and guidance is available via the following pages, listed below. This looks at permitted development rights in relation to driveways, micro-renewables and satellite dishes in more detail. It also offers advice on dropped kerbs, drainage and flooding, the Party Wall Act, works to trees and hedgerows, and many other relevant matters to this level of planning.

• Installation or replacement of driveways
• Installation of micro-renewables
• Installation of satellite dishes and aerials
• Dropped kerbs and highway queries
• Drainage and sewers
• Flooding
• The Party Wall Act
• Works to Trees and Hedgerows
• Amendments to and Extensions to Time Limits on Planning Permissions
• Guidance for High Quality and Sustainable Development
• Climate Change and Renewables
• Heritage and Conservation (including Listed Buildings)
• Coal Mining and effect on residential property

If you cannot find the information you are looking for, or wish to clarify detail, please contact the Planning Control team.