General Contractor Guide for Planning Permission

Do it Yourself Tips for Planning Permission

How much you can extend depends on your local borough and their individual policy. It also depends on what property you wish to extend. There can be different limits on Bungalows, semi-detached, detached, end of terrace and terraced properties.

There is not always a need to gain planning permission, some extension work and loft conversions can be done under Permitted Development. This allows you to build a certain amount without submitting plans. Each borough has a different policy on what meterage is acceptable.

If you have not needed to get planning permission for your additional build, a 'certificate of lawful development' can be issued to you, to show that you have submitted plans and that you were legally allowed to carry out the works.

If you are building a garage then planning permission is not always needed, once again each borough has its own policy on meterage and siting. The roof on the garage also needs to be taken into consideration there are different policies for pitched and flat rooves. Permitted Development is not available on all properties, such as a listed building, a building near a conservation area of new housing estates (each estate have different policies).