Conservatory Planning Permission

Around 50% of conservatories will require Planning Permission. A conservatory is treated in exactly the same way as a normal domestic extension in terms of Planning Permission.

Under the new Planning regulations that came into effect from 1st of October 2008, Planning Permission will be required for your conservatory if you answer "yes" to the following questions.

• Will more than half the area of land around the "original house"* be covered by additions or other buildings?
• Will the conservatory be forward of the principal elevation or side elevation fronting a highway?
• Will the conservatory be higher than the highest part of the buildings current roof?
• Will the conservatory exceed three metres for an attached house (semi-detached/ terrace) or four metres for a detached house?
• Will the height of the Conservatory exceed four metres?
• If the new conservatory is to be built on the side of the property, will it Protrude further than half that of the original house?
• Have the Permitted development rights been removed from your property or estate?
• Is the property In a National Park, the Broads, areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, World Heritage or in a Conservation Area?
• Will the conservatory be within the curtilage of listed buildings?

* The term "original house" means the house as it was first built or as it stood on 1 July 1948 (if it was built before that date). Although you may not have built an extension to the house, a previous owner may have done so.

 

Please read and print our own checklist PDF:

Please feel free to download and read the Government's own Planning Permission Guide below:

Planning: A Guide for Householders (300kb)

 

Retrospective Planning Permission

We can also provide you with plans for a Retrospective Planning application where Conservatories were built without first gaining Local Authority approval. As with any application, approval cannot be guaranteed. This type of application is often required during a house conveyance.

 

Advice

As stated above, around 50% of conservatories will require Planning Permission. A conservatory is treated in exactly the same way as a normal domestic extension in terms of Planning Permission.

Regretfully the myth that most conservatories are exempt from Planning Permission is often made worse by some conservatory suppliers/cowboys, that simply side step the issue or place the Planning Permission back onto the client with the use of small print in a contract.

Breaches of Planning Permission for conservatories are often found years after the conservatory has been built, when a homeowner is trying to sell a property. The buyers Surveyor will complete a survey on the property and it is their job to find any breaches of Planning Permission, this is made even more obvious today with the introduction of the H.I.P. (Home Information Pack).

WARNING - If it transpires after the conservatory has been built, that Planning Permission was required, then it is the HOME OWNER THAT IS RESPONSIBLE for rectifying the breach of Planning Control.

If you have to remove or re-size your conservatory - even years after its been built, then this can prove to be an expensive task.

We would advise that if you are unsure if you require Planning Permission for your conservatory, that you contact your Local Authority and speak to a Planning Officer.