Planning permission needed??

sillymum

Hello

Does anyone know whether planning permission is needed to install French doors and a skylight?? We'd like them in our (very dark!) kitchen. I know we need building regs but the planning department won't give us an answer unless we fill out an enquiry form which can take 8 weeks for them to respond to!! (And then, if we do need to apply for planning permission, that can take another 8 weeks and they're really busy so it is bound to take the full 8 weeks!).

It's not in a conservation area and it's not a listed building or anything. The builders we've spoken to seem adamant that it doesn't need planning permission (although they said the same about building regs, that's why I'm taking further advice!!).

Any thoughts anyone?

Thanks

marybishop

Unfortunately Planning Depts wont commit themselves verbally and in fact you really don't want them to - far better to get something from them in writing as a client of ours found out to his cost. Someone in a Planning Dept said something on the phone that later turned out to be wrong but by then he'd paid for a planning application which was then refused! So although it seems like ages it may well be better to wait and get it in writing.

woodbutcher_2

In my planning hand book it says,and i quote "You do not normally need planning permission to re-roof your house or to insert roof lights or skylights.All double glazing now requires permission especially if you are creating an opening for it.

richardbeatson

No, you won't need planning permission for this. You're not extending your property (you're allowed a certain amount without permission anyway - usually 3m squared which is why porches don't need permission).

If you're putting French doors in and a window they will need to meet building regulations. If your installer is FENSA registered then they can self certify their installation.

ta-da!

Regards

Richard

HugoSP

I suspect you'll be OK with this. We've remodelled a house partly by inserting french doors. We live in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Quite often if you go and speak to a planning officer, point your house out on a map and ask specific questions then you'll get direct answers.

We did this some years ago when we fitted a conservatory to a previous house. The advised us what the standard planning rights were for our house and the conservatory fell within these.

sillymum

Hello

Thanks for your advice everyone. We're fairly sure now that we don't need planning permission so we're just going to go ahead with getting building regs approval.

Many thanks

JennyW_2

we needed building regs to put in our french doors. If you do it yourself the inspector will want to see that they are Part L compliant.