Certain works, including some extensions and alterations to houses, are classed as 'permitted development'. Planning permission is not normally needed for these works. In conservation areas, however, planning permission is required for some changes that would normally be classed as permitted development.
Demolition
In a conservation area, you would need permission for:
- the total or substantial demolition of an unlisted building with a cubic content of more than 115 cubic metres (measured externally)
- demolition of a gate, wall, fence or other means of enclosure which is higher than 1 metre if abutting a highway, or higher than 2 metres otherwise
It is an offence to carry out such demolition without planning permission.
Alterations to houses
The following refers to works carried out to a house. It does not apply to flats or houses that have been converted to flats. In a conservation area, you would need permission for:
- single-storey extensions that extend more than 3 metres beyond the back wall of the house (or 4 metres in the case of a detached house)
- extensions at the back of a house with more than one storey
- any extensions at the side of a house
- additions, alterations or extensions to roofs
- cladding any part of the house with stone, render, timber, tiles or another material
- the construction within the grounds of a house, between the side of the house and the boundary, of:
- buildings (for example sheds)
- containers (for example tanks)
- enclosures (for example swimming pools)
- the installation of chimneys, flues or vents on the main (front) elevation of a house, or on a side elevation fronting a highway
- the installation of satellite dishes or antennae on a chimney, wall or roof slope where it is visible from a highway, or on a building that is taller than 15m
- installation of roof lights or solar panels that would protrude more than 150mm from the roof slope
- the installation of solar panels on a wall which fronts a highway
Alterations to windows and doors, and painting the outside of a house, do not require planning permission unless there is an Article 4 Direction in place, provided that materials and appearance are similar to those of the original construction.
Flats do not have any permitted development rights so permission is required for all works that are not like-for-like replacements or that might change the appearance of the building. This includes changes to the windows.
Changes of use and temporary uses
In a conservation area, you need prior approval to change use from commercial, business and services (E) to residential (C3).
Non-domestic extensions and alterations
In the case of non-residential development within a conservation area, you would need permission for:
- extensions in materials that would not have a similar appearance to that of the original building
- extensions or additional buildings above a certain size, or (in the case of a shop) within 2 metres of the boundary
- alterations to existing shops or offices
- the erection of collection facilities or modifications to loading bays within the boundary of a shop
- developments at waste management facilities