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Conservatory planning permission pointers

As our families grow it’s reassuring to know our homes are can grow too. For many people, adding an extension to the home isn’t a possibility because of:

  • Restricted space
  • Out of reach costs
  • Planning permission denial

In this instance a conservatory is a perfect substitution. It’s less expensive, less space is required and for the most part, you’re exempt from requiring planning permission. However, there are some instances where conservatories do require planning permission and it’s worth taking a look at these rules:

Planning permission guidelines in England

The Government guidelines are centred around the size of the conservatory and rules state that ‘No more than half the area of land around the “original house” (as it was first built or as it stood on 1 July 1948) can be covered by additions or other buildings’.

Up until 2013 the area limit for any kind of construction was 4m past the end of your detached home and 3m for all other homes. Since then a new scheme has been brought into place (The Government’s Larger Home Extensions Neighbour Consultation Scheme) which covers extensions built between 30 May 2013 and 30 May 2019. This scheme allows the construction of larger conservatories, reaching up to 8m for detached and 6m for other housing.

For the extended constructions there are additional details that need to be adhered to:

  • The local planning authority will need to be notified (though no fee is required).
  • On receipt of notification the planning authority will contact the neighbours in the adjoining properties.
  • If there are any objections the neighbours then have up to 21 days to submit these objections.
  • There can be no extension higher than the highest part of the roof.
  • The height of the conservatory should be no higher than the existing house.
  • Side conservatories should be single storey no more than 4m in height and the width should not exceed 50% of the original house.
  • The conservatory must not include balconies or raised platforms.
  • Any buildings on World Heritage Sites, designated land, national parks and other conservation areas are not permitted. Neither are rear extensions of more than one storey or any side extensions

If you choose a conservatory that doesn’t fall under the government regulations you will need to follow the channels of planning permission and apply to the Local Building Authority.

Planning permission guidelines in Wales

For people living in Wales, the rules are slightly different:

  • If you wish to install a conservatory onto your terraced house or home within a national park, conservation area or World Heritage Site then you are restricted to a side conservatory under 3m and the conservatory must be set back from the principal elevation of the original house by a minimum length of 1m.
  • The conservatory length and height must not exceed 4m.
  • Side conservatories must not exceed the width of your conservatory or more than 50% of the original house width.
  • The height of the conservatory cannot extend above the existing roof.
  • If the conservatory is situated within 2m of a boundary of your house, the height of the conservatory cannot extend above 3 metres.

Whether you live in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, if you live in any listed building, you will be required to apply for planning permission for any kind of extension.

So although these rules and guidelines may seem confusing it seems that the conservatory trend is gaining strength year on year. Even the Royal couple have extended their Sandringham home with a conservatory! For further details, please feel free to contact one of our experts who will be only too glad to help.