WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL FORTHCOMING PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT HOME EXTENSION CHANGES IN 2024?
For information on ‘what is permitted development’ and the current rules and regulations, for a permitted development home extension refer to our blog here.
The ‘Department of Levelling Up, Housing & Communities’ are seeking views on proposed changes to the permitted development rights which allow householders to enlarge their homes and make alterations or extensions to the roof.
They are proposing amendments to certain permitted development rights and are also seeking views on whether the prior approval process for these permitted development rights can be simplified or streamlined to improve efficiency.
The consultation period will run for 8 weeks from 13th February 2024 to the 9th April 2024.
To provide clarity, we have listed below the different sections that will be taken into account during the consultation period. Additionally, we’ve highlighted various items that are being considered within the framework of a householder permitted development scheme.
The enlargement, improvement or other alteration to homes.
An existing permitted development right (under Class A of Part 1) provides for the enlargement, improvement or other alteration to a dwellinghouse. These permitted development home extension rights allow for the construction of single-storey rear extensions, two-storey rear extensions, single-storey side extensions and roof additions inclusive of loft conversions.
Existing Permitted Development home extension rights are denoted in italic, under consideration Permitted Development rights are in bold: –
- A ground floor rear extension can extend out 3 meters at the rear on a terrace or semi-detached property.
- A ground floor rear extension would be able to extend out 4 meters at the rear on a terrace or semi-detached property.
- A ground floor rear extension can extend out 4 meters at the rear on a detached property.
- A ground floor rear extension would be able to extend out 5 meters at the rear on a detached property.
- Rear two-storey extensions. In the case of a rear two-storey extension, it cannot extend beyond the rear of the original dwellinghouse by more than 3 metres. In addition, where the extension or enlarged part of the house has more than a single storey, it must be a minimum of 7 metres away from any boundary of its curtilage which is opposite the rear wall of the house being enlarged.
- Rear two-storey extensions. In the case of a rear two-storey extension, it cannot extend beyond the rear of the original dwellinghouse by more than 4 metres. In addition, where the extension or enlarged part of the house has more than a single storey, it must be a minimum of 7 metres away from any boundary of its curtilage which is opposite the rear wall of the house being enlarged.
- Extensions (which includes any extensions delivered under permitted development rights or under a separate planning permission) and other buildings must not exceed 50% of the curtilage of the dwellinghouse.
- The 50% curtilage limitation will be removed.
- A single-storey rear extension or single-storey side extension can be up to 4 meters in height.
- This height restriction will be retained.
- The height of the enlargement, improvement or alteration cannot exceed the height of the highest part of the roof of the existing dwellinghouse. In addition, the height of the eaves of the enlargement, improvement or alteration cannot exceed the height of the eaves of the existing dwellinghouse.
- Where a rear two-storey extension is not visible from the street, the visual and amenity impacts may be limited. Therefore, it is proposed that the above limitations will only apply where a two-storey rear extension is visible from the street. If a rear two-storey extension is not visible from the street, then it is proposed that the highest part of the alteration can be as high as the highest part of the existing roof, excluding any chimney.
Additions to the roof (including roof conversions and extensions)
- Under the permitted development home extension rights, any additional roof space created must not exceed the cubic content of the original roof space by more than 40 cubic metres in the case of a terrace house or 50 cubic metres in all other cases. Resulting roof space means the roof space as enlarged, taking into account any enlargement to the original roof space (whether delivered under permitted development rights or under a separate planning permission).
- It is proposed that the limitation is removed so that householders can convert as much of their loft space as is available.
Areas that are under consideration:-
Materials.
- The permitted development right requires that, in all cases, the materials used in any exterior work (other than those used in the construction of a conservatory) must be of a similar appearance to those on the exterior of the existing house.
- Feedback is currently being sought on whether alternative materials would be more appropriate in the construction of an extension, for example, where modern sustainable materials are preferred.
Wrap around extensions.
- At present, the permitted development home extension rights allow for separate rear and side extensions, however, it does not permit a “wrap around” extension which extends across the rear and side elevation. Wrap around extensions are not currently permitted due to the conditions and limitations of the right, for example, extensions are not currently permitted where they extend beyond a side wall and are more than half the width of the original building.
- Wrap around extensions can provide householders with further flexibility for new room usage, support open plan living and increase access to natural light and outdoor space. Feedback is currently being sought on whether permitted development rights should allow for single-storey wrap around L-shaped extensions (which extend across the rear and one side of a home).
Additions to the roof (including roof conversions and extensions)
- Permitted development rights currently require that any part of the dwellinghouse cannot, as a result of the works, be higher than the highest part of the existing roof. The highest part of the roof means the ridge line of the main roof (even though there may be other ridge lines at a lower level) or the highest part of the roof where the building has a flat roof. Chimneys, firewalls, parapet walls and other protrusions above the main roof ridge line are not taken into account when considering the height of the highest part of the roof of the existing dwellinghouse.
- Due to the current limitations on the maximum height of the roof extension, it is understood that many householders are either changing the internal height of ceilings, which incurs a large cost, or are required to submit a planning application to increase the height of the roof. It is therefore a consideration that this limitation should be amended to allow the ridge height of the original roof to increase by up to 30 centimeters in height. This would allow householders to make modest extensions to the roof.
The above is all under consideration at present and is not currently in force, however it is apparent from all of the points raised above that should all or part of the suggestions be implemented, that it will inevitably help householders by removing the need to submit a formal planning application via their local council.
PJH Architectural Services will provide an update once the Department of Levelling Up, Housing & Communities has conducted and concluded their consultation, confirmed what permitted development home extension changes will be coming into force and by what date we can expect to see these changes implemented.
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