Extensions - No planning permission required.

Procrastinator333

While looking at properties and thinking about what we are planning to do. We decided to investigate planning regulations a bit. Perhaps it was only me, but I had no idea the extent to which you could extend without any planning permission being required. Have a play with the link below. There is some more info on there about loft conversions too.

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/extensions/miniguide

In short, the vast majority of properties will be able to have a loft conversion and add a decent sized extension with zero planning permission required. As far as I can see, this only came in a couple of years ago, so there hasn't really been time for this to make a difference to many. But it seems like a pretty big deal to me.

So, will this make a difference to house prices? On the one hand, it makes me think that the price differential between say a 3 bed a 4 bed house will have to sit in a band reasonably close to the cost of an extension. Afterall, if you don't need any planning permission, just buy the 3 bed and add an extension.

If there are significnat numbers of extensions built, what does this do to Hamish's supply and demand argument? If the capcaity of every house increased by 25%, that is a lot of extra room without any extra houses. Though there would likely then be more people living there, so would that actually drive proces higher?

I don't really have any deep thoughts on this or the impact it will have (if any). Just found it very interesting what you can do without planning permission and figured I would throw it out there!

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

Procrastinator333 wrote: »

In short, the vast majority of properties will be able to have a loft conversion and add a decent sized extension with zero planning permission required. As far as I can see, this only came in a couple of years ago, so there hasn't really been time for this to make a difference to many. But it seems like a pretty big deal to me.

This isn't new.

It's been the case as far back as I remember, although the rules around size and permitted works do change periodically.

So, will this make a difference to house prices?

No.

If there are significnat numbers of extensions built, what does this do to Hamish's supply and demand argument?

Nothing.

There are already more than enough bedrooms for everyone in the UK to have one.... That's never been the issue.

itsallagame_2

I have used just building control for several years on various properties, developing below certain volumes.

So its nothing new really, although perhaps more peeps will use this method instead of trying to sell the property, which makes good financial sense.

mbga9pgf

The thing is, newbuilds dont come with any real potential for extension as they are managed space. Same with the loft.

Procrastinator333

Well, guess it was just me then! :rotfl:

Really2

mbga9pgf wrote: »

The thing is, newbuilds dont come with any real potential for extension as they are managed space. Same with the loft.

I have about a 11ft+ high loft by 21ft deep running the whole length of the house.

Depends compleatly on the style of the house and how high/steep the roof is. 60's/70's houses tend to be the worst bet for loft as they had a low roof style.

I won't argue on extentions on newbuilds in general, but I have around 20'ft at the side of my house I could build out to before I hit my neighbors border.
Land cost is a major factor of modern development unlike 50+ years ago.

mbga9pgf

And how much garden would you have left?

michaels

I agree with you OP - permitted development was relaxed a lot recently so that dormer loft conversions and single storey extensions generally no longer require planning permission (outside conservation areas). However not all houses have that much scope. The street I am in most only have scope for a small loft and a rear extension ground floor so can not go that far - unlike mine which I am more than doubling but that did require planning permission.

However given the uncertain property market and costs of moving with stamp duty (4 beds are generally over 500k) there is a huge amount of extending going on - locally most roads have more than 1 extension going on at the moment, so that part of the building trade at least is thriving.

John_Pierpoint

In high stress areas for housing the "free" site makes up for the higher costs needed to build on a cramped site with the building's occupiers still in place:
"Excuse me madam, can we turn off your water over the Royal Wedding weekend".

However, the modern "green" building regulations, that quite rightly can take the opportunity to force up standards when changes are proposed, can make the extension, plus retrofitting of insulation etc., cost more than the TV property !!!!!! shows would have you believe.

If your house needs any re-rendering or roof changes, approach with care. That is before we think about the relatively new "party wall" agreements, the fees and the insistence on calculations in place of the rule of thumb methods the builders used when your home was originally constructed.

Theone1_2

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

There are already more than enough bedrooms for everyone in the UK to have one.... That's never been the issue.

Then when more people extend there will be a surplus and prices will fall even further when the props are taken out soon.

Really2

mbga9pgf wrote: »

And how much garden would you have left?

Can't say converting my loft would change my garden space. But let's not go comparing sizes, it will make no one happy.