More Scope for House Extensions? Avoid Planning Pitfalls
14th Jul 2009
Property owners like to protect their house and its surroundings, particularly if they have paid a considerable amount of money for it, but they also want the freedom to alter it as they see fit.
The rules and regulations in relation to extensions to houses changed on October 1, 2008.
These so-called “permitted development rights” used to be based on the overall volume of the proposed extension to a property (among other criteria).
However, they are now based on the height and size of the proposed extension in relation to the existing property and its proximity to the boundaries. “Householder development”, as the humble house extension is referred to in planning circles, can be a highly contentious and emotive part of planning.
The new rules have been drawn up to try and ensure that any extension constructed under them will not have an adverse impact on a neighbouring property.
However, they are only new and only time, and a few High Court cases, will tell if this has been achieved.
Interestingly though, a development that may have been refused planning permission prior to last October may now actually be permitted under these new regulations.
For example, a two-storey extension to the rear of a property, which may have been refused because of its impact on the openness of the green belt, may now be permitted development.
Property owners are advised to look into these new rights as they may be of benefit to them.
It may also be worth looking at the individual components of a larger scheme. For example, if you want to extend your property to both the side and rear it may be that only the side extension requires planning permission. This type of information may not be forthcoming from a planning officer.
There is no reason to open up an area of a development to local authority scrutiny if it does not need to be. You may also avoid the possibility of the authority imposing onerous planning conditions on an extension that does not even require planning permission.
I would never advocate reducing the size of an overall scheme just to ensure that it does not require planning permission.
However, it is always better to be flexible than stubborn and if reducing the size of your dream extension to fall within the ‘permitted development rights’ allows you to proceed, then it is a better option.
You should also always get advice as to whether a proposed development does or does not require planning permission.
* Katie Wood is a planning consultant with BHP Develop. She can be contacted on 0191-221 0898.
Author: Katie Wood, Planning Consultant (KatieW@bhpdevelop.co.uk)
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