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Conservatory planning

Do I need planning permission for a conservatory?

Adding a conservatory to your house may be considered to be permitted development, which means you can build a small extension/conservatory without the need to apply for planning permission. There are however several conditions that may result in planning being required. These are as follows:

1. On designated land, conservatories extending beyond the side wall of the original house are not permitted development. Designated land includes National Parks, the Broads, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Conservation Areas and World Heritage Sites.
2. If you, or the previous owners of the property, have extended the original house, the volume of these additions/extensions needs to be considered when calculating your remaining, if any, permitted development allowance. Conservatories and all previous extensions must not exceed 50% of the total area of land around the original house as it stood on 1 July 1948.
3. Conservatories forward of the principal elevation or side elevation of the house and fronting a highway are not permitted development.
4. A single storey rear conservatory must not exceed a height of 4.0 metres, and not extend beyond the rear wall of the original house by more than 3.0 metres if an attached house or by 4.0 metres if a detached house.
5. If the conservatory (at side or rear) is within 2.0 metres of a boundary the maximum eaves height should be no more than 3.0 metres to be permitted development.
6. Side conservatories must not have a width greater than half the width of the original house. Side conservatories must be single storey with a maximum height of 4.0 metres.
7. The maximum eaves height should be no higher than the eaves of the existing house.
8. Other consents may be required if your house is listed or in a designated area.

In general one of the above conditions will result in the conservatory requiring planning permission. If however your property is not in a designated area, has not been extended, and the volume of the conservatory is no greater than 50m3, planning permission may not be required. If there is any doubt you should contact your local planning authority.

The consequences of building an extension/conservatory without obtaining the correct permissions can result ultimately in having to take down the building.

It should be noted that other consents may be required such as Party Wall agreements which we can advise and provide assistance with.

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