If you are planning a property extension, you may feel you need planning permission for any work conducted on your home. However, you may not be aware that permitted development rules have relaxed somewhat over the last few years, allowing for extensions up to six metres (or eight if your property is detached) without requiring planning permission.
Before you begin any work, there are some things to talk through with your Manchester architects to ensure they apply to your project.
History of your Property
Flats, maisonettes, and other building types have no permitted development rights, so you cannot build an extension without full planning permission. You will also need to uncover whether your property has had any major change of use or conversions in the past, as it may affect your permitted development rights.
If you or previous owners of the house have extended the property, it will eat into your permitted development rights. Another factor may be if your property is listed or on designated land or other protected area. That includes conservation areas, national parks, or a world heritage site. Your permitted development rights may have been removed if your property has an Article 4 direction.
If your permitted development rights may have been restricted on designated land, you cannot build more than one storey, have a side extension, or clad the interior.
Permitted Development Rules
Although your architects Manchester will be able to provide full details about your property and the regulations around what is permissible, there are permitted development rules applicable to all extensions.
Materials must be similar to the existing house, with no verandas, balconies, or raised platforms – especially anything taller than the existing building. The extension should not take up more than half of your garden or outdoor space, with single-storey extensions reaching no further than four metres high. If the extension is within two metres of the property boundary, it cannot exceed three metres in height.
Front extensions are not allowed under permitted development rules, but planning permission can still be applied for. For side extensions, it cannot front onto the road and can only be a single-storey high. Side extensions cannot exceed three metres out of the original house or be over half of the original property width.
As you can see, there are variations depending on the property type and plan for extension. To find out how far you can go with planning a property extension, contact the team at Cheadle Architects today.
