Permitted development (PD) rights allow homeowners to carry out certain types of building work without applying for planning permission. They are a form of pre-granted planning consent set out in national legislation — the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015. Understanding what falls within permitted development can save significant time and cost.
What Can You Do Under Permitted Development?
For a standard house (not a flat, listed building or property in a conservation area with Article 4 Directions), permitted development rights typically allow:
- Single-storey rear extensions up to 4 metres (detached) or 3 metres (other houses) beyond the original rear wall.
- Larger single-storey rear extensions up to 8m/6m under the prior approval process.
- Loft conversions within specified cubic metre limits (50m³ for detached/semi, 40m³ for terraced).
- Outbuildings and garden structures within certain size limits.
- Porches up to 3m² and under 3 metres high.
- Internal alterations (no planning permission required for most internal work).
Important Limitations
- Permitted development rights do not apply to flats, maisonettes or listed buildings.
- Properties in conservation areas have more restricted PD rights.
- Article 4 Directions can remove PD rights from specific areas or property types.
- Previous extensions may have used up some or all of the available PD allowance.
- PD rights apply to the original house as built (or as it stood on 1 July 1948), not the current footprint.
Permitted Development Does Not Mean No Approval Required
Even when planning permission is not required under permitted development, Building Regulations approval is still required for most building work. These are two entirely separate processes.
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