Conservatories come in all shapes and sizes. From large P-shaped and T-shaped extensions that run the width of your home to smaller Victorian and Gable Front designs, a conservatory is many homeowner’s dream home improvement. Let’s face it, we’d all like some extra living space. Whether it’s an extended dining or living area, a room for home working, or a place for the kids to play, a conservatory is a convenient addition to any home.
Unfortunately, lots of people are put off installing a conservatory because of planning permission concerns. To help you to make an informed decision, here is a short guide to what size conservatory you can build without planning permission.
Planning permission exempt conservatories
When extending your home with a conservatory, you may need to request local authority approval. If you want to avoid unnecessary complications, the following criteria should be met. You won’t need planning permission if your conservatory:
- Covers less than half the land around the original house
- Does not extend from the front of your home
- Is not higher than the highest part of your roof
- Does not extend from your property by more than 3m (attached house) 4m (detached house)
- Is not higher than 4m
If you stick to these guidelines, your conservatory will be considered ‘permitted development’ and you will not require planning permission.
The Neighbour Consultation Scheme
If you want your conservatory to be larger than the dimensions stated above, there is another option. The Neighbour Consultation Scheme is a local authority initiative valid between May 2013 and May 2019. During this six-year period, permitted conservatory dimensions are increased to 6m (attached house) and 8m (detached house).
If you decide on this option, you must notify the local planning authority before any work begins. They will then contact your neighbours who will have 21 days to object to the proposal. In most cases there is not an objection. However, if you do not follow the correct procedure, your conservatory will not be considered legal and you may be forced to remove it.
At Global Windows, we install a wide range of glazed extensions. If you’re thinking about extending your home and you’d like more information about the best option for your home, contact Global Windows today. Call us on 0800 610 1234 or send us a message online. Alternatively, if you are local to Sheffield, you can come down and visit us at our showroom.
