Work you can carry out without permission

This section provides some general guidance on minor domestic works which in principle can normally be carried out without planning permission. However, professional advice should always be sought before carrying out any works as the regulations are complex. Particular care must be taken if the house is a listed building, within a conservation area, affected by an Article 4 Direction or is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Extensions and other alterations
Roof extensions
Swimming pools, garages, garden sheds and greenhouses
Porches
Containers
Hardstanding
Gates, fences or walls
Satellite antenna
Painting of the exterior

Extensions and other alterations - planning permission may not be required providing:

• The extension is less than 70 m3 or 15% of the volume of the original house, whichever is the greater. If the house is in a terrace or a conservation area or an AONB, the limit is 50 m3 or 10% when measured around the outside. If the house has been extended before, the volume of this must be added to the new work and, together, be less than the limit. In both cases an overall maximum of 115 metres applies
• The extension does not project above the highest part of the original house roof
• No part of the extension is within 20 metres of any highway. However, if the original house is less than 20 metes from a highway, any extension must not be nearer the highway than the original house
• No part of any extension, within two metres of a boundary, is more than four metres high
• The total area of such building does not exceed one-half of the garden area
• Within a conservation area or AONB, no cladding of any part of the exterior with stone, artificial stone, timber, plastic or tiles, is carried out

Roof extensions - planning permission may not required providing:

• The extension does not exceed the highest part of the existing roof
• The extension does not extend beyond an existing roof slope which fronts a highway (A footpath may be a highway for the purposes of this provision)
• The cubic content of the house is not increased by more than 40m³, in the case of a terraced house, or 50m³ in any other case
• As with other extensions, the cubic content of the original house must not be increased beyond the limits as set out in the extensions and other alterations (Bookmark)section. If the house has been extended before, the volume of this must be added to the roof extension and together be less than the relevant limit
• The house is not in a conservation area or an AONB

Swimming pools, garages, garden sheds and greenhouses - planning permission may not be required providing:

• The development is not within 20 metres of a highway. If the original house is less than 20 metres from a highway, any development must not be nearer the highway than the original house
• Any building greater than 10 cubic metres is not within five metres of the house. Such buildings may sometimes be covered by the restrictions in the Extensions and other alterations section (bookmark)
• In the case of a ridged roof, its height does not exceed four metres and, in any other case, three metres
• Any building is not greater than 10 cubic metres, if the house is listed or if it is in a conservation area or an AONB
• The total area of any development does not exceed half of the garden area of the house
• With regards to garages, an application for planning permission may be needed to form or alter an access to a highway, particularly if it is a classified road
  

Porches - planning permission may not be required providing:

• The floor area does not exceed three square metres
• It is not more than three metres high
• It is not within two metres of any highway (A footpath may be a highway for the purposes of this provision)

Containers for storage of oil for domestic heating - planning permission may not be required providing:

• Their capacity is not more than 3,500 litres
• They are not more than three metres above ground
• They are at least 20 metres from the highway or, if the original house is less than 20 metres from the highway, not closer to the highway than the original house

Hardstanding within the garden of a house for domestic purposes - planning permission may not be required providing:

• It is for a patio or a car parking space
• An application for planning permission may be needed to form or alter an access to a high way, particularly if it is a classified road - consent will always be required from the Highway Authority.

Gates, fences or walls - planning permission may not be required providing:

• They do not exceed one metre in height next to a highway used by vehicles or two metres elsewhere
• They do not exceed the height of any existing gate, fence or wall if these are greater than the heights referred to above
• The house is not listed

Satellite antenna - planning permission may not be required providing:

• It does not exceed 90cm in any dimension, or 45cm if installed on a chimney
• There is no other satellite antenna on the house or within the garden
• It is not higher than the highest part of the roof, or the highest part of the chimney if installed on a chimney
• Special restrictions apply in conservation areas and AONBs. In all cases an antenna must be sited to minimise its effect on the external appearance
  

The painting of the exterior - planning permission may not be required providing:

• It is not for the purpose of advertisement, announcement or direction
  

More planning information can be found on the central Government web site, here for householders, here for businesses and here for farmers.

General information can also be found though the Planning Portal.

For more information about planning permission issues, contact the Development Control section.