If you are planning a renovation or an extension in your residential property, it’s best to begin by examining your planning permission for home extensions. Your Local Planning Authority can guide you on existing policies regarding the same before you begin renovations.
Depending on where you live in London, you are given a 50 to 70 cubic metre permitted development limit. However, if you live in a listed building or in a conservation area, these development limits are not applicable and you need to submit a request for planning permission.
Further, if this is not your first time remodelling, you will have to calculate the used up permitted development limit with the help of your local decorators in London and ensure you stay within the stipulated limit. If you have already exhausted your limit, you will have to apply for another planning permission. Here’s a look at the necessity for planning permissions for different parts of a house.
For basements
You are not likely to need permissions to convert your basement or cellar into a living space. However, you would need a planning permission if:
- • You plan to convert your basement into an individual living unit.
- • It changes the external appearance of your house.
- • Your renovations require excavations to accommodate your fresh plans.
- • The usage of the space is significantly altered like adding a light well.
- • You live in a listed building.
For conservatories
In this case too, you do not need special planning permissions barring the following scenarios.
- • Only half the space around your property can be used for construction.
- • If you live close to a highway, you cannot extend forward from the principal elevation or side elevation.
- • Your new extensions cannot tower over the highest part of your roof.
It’s also good to have your decorators in London verify the dimensions of your proposed conservatory with the planning authorities.
For floors and ceilings
Planning permissions are generally not required for replacing floors and ceilings unless you live in a listed building. Similarly, if you want to put in fresh doors and windows like your existing ones, you will not require permissions for them.
Skylights too will not need permissions provided they stay within your roof levels. Bay windows, on the other hand, are considered extensions and may require a planning permit.
Do You Need Planning Permission For decks?
If you are planning on putting up a raised platform or decking in your garden, then it is a permitted addition that does not require planning permission provided the following is true:
- • Your decking is not more than 30 centimetre above ground.
- • The decking along with your other outbuilding extensions does not cover more than 50% of the ground outside your home.
For any kind of repairs and maintenance pertaining to your existing building, its sewers and drains, its electrics, and its heating and boiler system, you generally do not need a planning permit.
However, if you are undertaking extensive work or your London decorators suggest otherwise, it’s always best to ensure there are no changes in these policies with your local authorities.