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Permitted development rights

Homeowners will be allowed to carry on building large house extensions without full planning permission under the Permitted Development Rights after the government announced it was making temporary rules permanent.

Under the permitted development rights homeowners can put a single-storey rear extension on their property extending up to 6m for terraced or semi-detached homes, or 8m for detached homes. Any such proposal will still be bound by the relevant Neighbour Consultation Scheme and your Local Planning Authority will still need to be informed.

Comments raised by some professionals during the temporary rules show these larger extensions can still be stopped by immediate neighbours, requiring applicants to revert back to the Certificate of Lawfulness route which takes the standard 8 weeks and that permitted development rules can be restrictive in terms of design and materials. Also, on selling property solicitors are wanting a certificate of lawfulness for new extensions to prove they are permitted development.

As a practice, we advise clients as to their best route in accordance with their local authority planning department. We design sustainable single and two-storey house extensions of good proportions and form. We achieve good ambient and natural light and the coming together of materials, finishes and colour palette.