Do you want to expand your living space at a fraction of the cost of moving home? Is your family outgrowing the space you already have? Or do you want to make an investment that increases the value of your property? If so, then a home extension is the answer. When thinking about your home extension, there is much to consider and the question of ‘Do I need planning permission for an extension?’ is one that we’re often asked. Fortunately, we at AS Construction & Structural Engineering are the home of intelligent, efficient, and innovative structural engineering services, including home extensions. This means that we can answer all your questions about home extensions including: ‘Do I need planning permission for an extension?’.
In this blog, we’ll explore everything you need to know about your new extension and will delve into the world of extensions and planning permission. Our extensive knowledge and innovative approach to home expansion and improvements mean that we are perfectly placed to provide trusted advice and top-quality recommendations. We can help you achieve a home extension that will elevate your property and improve your lifestyle. Get in touch with us today for more information.
What is a home extension?
Home extensions utilise unused space around a property such as garden areas, passageways or alleys to add extra rooms, expand living areas or alter the layout of your property. If you’re looking for a way to achieve more space then a home extension is the answer.
What is involved in building an extension?
Here at AS Construction & Structural Engineering, our team is passionate about sustainable and efficient engineering. Our hands-on and personable approach to working means that every project is completed with care and due diligence, ensuring the needs of our clients are always met. Our extensive experience in producing structural engineering designs ensures that you will receive the most economical, efficient and innovative design solutions. Our extension construction includes:
- General planning.
- Design and access statements.
- Planning policy research and advice.
- Preparation of Building Regulations applications.
- Detailed drawings to a measured scale.
- Groundworks and foundations.
- Flush floor and ceiling finishes.
- Uninterrupted running walls.
- Minimal steel structures for support.
- And much, much more.
We provide a complete service that will take you from quotation to completion with premium quality results. Please don’t hesitate to contact us today for more information!
Do I need planning permission for an extension?
Now to the all-important question: Do I need planning permission for an extension? Whether you are building an extension to use as a playroom for a new addition to the family or wish to expand your kitchen, staying abreast of all regulations is crucial. Failing to adhere to regulations and policies can see you entangled in lengthy and costly legal disputes with your local council which may issue a demolition order. Here’s everything you need to know about extensions and planning permission…
Permitted Development for an Extension
New rules were implemented in October 2008 which stated that not all extensions require planning permission. Some extensions are permitted without a formal planning application as it is automatically granted under ‘Permitted Development Rights’. We do recommend that you seek advice from your local authority as interpretation of ‘Permitted Development Rights’ may vary, despite the rights being derived from a general planning permission granted by the government.
An extension will be considered a permitted development if:
- It covers no more than 50% of the land around the ‘original house’.
- It will not be forward of the principal elevation or side elevation fronting a highway.
- It will not be higher than the highest part of the roof.
- A single-storey rear extension will not exceed a maximum depth of 3 metres beyond the rear wall for an attached house and 4 metres beyond the rear wall for a detached house.
- A single-storey rear extension will not exceed a maximum height of 4 metres.
- A multi-storey rear extension will not exceed a maximum depth of 3 metres beyond the rear wall including the ground floor.
- Eaves height of an extension within 2 metres of the boundary shall not be 3 three metres.
- Eaves and ridge height of extension shall not exceed the height of the existing house.
- Side extensions should be single-storey with a maximum height of 4 metres and not exceed a width of half the original house.
- Two-storey extensions shall be no closer than 7 metres to the rear boundary.
- The roof pitch of an extension higher than one storey must match the existing house.
- Materials must be of similar appearance to the existing house.
- The extension will not include any verandas, balconies or raised platforms.
- Upper-floor, side-facing windows must be obscure-glazed with any opening to be 1.7m above the floor.
At AS Construction & Structural Engineering, we can provide trusted advice and recommendations about ‘Permitted Development Rights’ if you’re not sure. Contact us for more information.
Permitted Development in a Conservation Area
Is your property in a conservation area? If so, then your ‘Permitted Development Rights’ are more restrictive than other property types. Properties in a conservation area cannot include any side extension or exterior cladding and are restricted to being a single-storey rear extension only.
Which extensions need planning permission?
Depending on your specifications, your extension proposal may not meet the rules to be considered a permitted development. Whichever way your proposal may differ from permitted development regulations, you will require planning permission before commencing any extension construction.
An extension will require full planning permission if:
- It will cover more than 50% of the land around the original house (as it was first built or as it stood on 01 July 1948).
- It is to be forward of the principal elevation or side elevation fronting a highway.
- It is to be higher than the highest part of the existing roof.
- A single-storey rear extension is to exceed 3 metres beyond the rear wall for an attached house and four metres beyond the rear wall for a detached house.
- A single-storey rear extension is to exceed a height of 4 metres.
- A rear extension of more than one storey is to exceed a depth of 3 metres beyond the rear wall.
- The eaves height of an extension is to exceed the height of 2 metres of the boundary of 3 metres.
- The eaves and ridge height of the extension are to exceed the height of the existing house.
- A single-storey side extension is to exceed a height of 4 metres and a width of more than half that of the original house.
- A two-storey extension is to be closer than 7 metres to the rear boundary.
- The roof pitch of an extension higher than one storey does not match the existing house.
- Materials used will not be similar in appearance to the existing house.
- It is to include any verandas, balconies or raised platforms.
- Upper-floor, side-facing windows to be clear glazed; any opening to be lower than 1.7m above the floor.
At AS Construction & Structural Engineering, we can assist with obtaining planning permission for your extension. Please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information.
What are the benefits of a home extension?
We’ve seen our clients enjoy the benefits of their home extensions first-hand. Here are the benefits that you can enjoy when you choose to extend your home…
- Clever Use of Space
Home extensions are fantastic for giving purpose to unused space outside your property. Garden areas, passageways or alleys can be transformed to help you get the most out of the space your home occupies.
- Connect Indoor/Outdoor Living
Connecting indoor and outdoor living is a popular design trend and one that is perfectly achievable with a home extension. This means that you can blur the lines between home and garden, boosting your lifestyle as well as the size of your home.
- Tailored To You
All of our home extensions are bespoke to our clients. Whatever your tastes and however you need your extension to function for you and your home we can tailor it all to your needs.
- Increase Your Home’s Value
Home extensions can add up to 15% to the value of your home with the average being 12%. Depending on how your extra space is to be utilised, you can see significant monetary benefits.
- Sustainable Solutions
We are always looking for ways to minimise our carbon footprint when executing the day-to-day tasks of running a business. What’s more, we endeavour to help our clients reduce their carbon footprint by providing innovative engineering solutions.
Ready to plan your home extension?
Understanding planning permission where your extension is concerned is essential to the success of your proposal and project. ‘Do I need planning permission for an extension?’ is an open-ended question and the answer will vary depending on the type of extension you wish to build, your location, whether your property is in a conservation area, and more. Our expert team are knowledgeable about all aspects of planning permission including ‘Permitted Development Rights’, which extension types are excluded from the rights and more. In short, planning permission is a small, but sometimes necessary, hurdle to overcome if you are looking to expand your family home. Extensions deliver a multitude of excellent benefits including adding extra space, increasing the value of your property, connecting indoor and outdoor living and much more. Ensuring that your extension adheres to planning permission requirements is absolutely essential to the success of your extension project. If you’re unsure if you need planning permission for your extension, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with AS Construction & Structural Engineering.
How does it work?
1 Understand Your Requirements
From your initial correspondence with us via email and/or phone, we take the time to discuss and understand your home extension. We will also find out if there are any site or design limitations we should be aware of.
2 Quotation
We submit a formal Fee Proposal based on the information received or discussed with you over email/phone, or if you have simply requested a quote via our quote form. We ensure our Fee Proposal clearly outlines the expected scope of work so that you are well informed and can easily decide on whether you wish to proceed with our services.
3 Carry Out a Site Visit
Once you have accepted our Fee Proposal and formally instructed us on your project, we will arrange a suitable time to visit the site and carry out an initial visual inspection. The site visit allows us to discuss in person, your requirements in further detail as well as familiarise ourselves with the existing structure and the immediate surroundings. It also helps you to put a face to a name.
4 Design & Survey Documents
Once an initial site visit is completed, for our structural design services we produce three structural design documents, all of which are required to be submitted to Building Control for you to gain approval for your proposed works. The structural design documents are as follows:
- Structural Calculation
- Structural Drawings
- Structural Specification Notes
Why Choose Us?
Complete Project Management: We provide great designs that satisfy our client’s requirements, and our exceptional project completion rate is a testament to the constant business we receive from new and existing clients.
Range of Services: We offer services nationally across the UK and our portfolio includes residential, commercial, industrial, health and education projects in both the private and public sectors.
Fully Qualified: We are fully qualified and are registered with the Institution of Structural Engineers, the world’s leading and governing professional body for qualifications and standards in structural engineering.
Ready to expand your property with an extension? Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with AS Construction & Structural Engineering today!
