Do we need planning permission for a rear extension larger than 3 metres?

sann420

Hi All,

I am thinking about getting my aunts house extended with a rear extension as she is in quite cramped up space. We want to have the kitchen and possibly a shower room in this extension so that it frees up more living space in the actual house.

Its basically a small victorian terrace in East London which is not in a conservation area.

I am confused about the planning permissions as one builder told me you can just build a rear extension upto 6m depth and another told me if its larger than 3m then it would need planning permission.

As I dont know anything about building extensions any information about the build process, budget, builders or pointing me towards other similar posts would be much appreciated.

Many Thanks,
A

Kiran

All the info you require is in here
https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/common_projects/17/extensions

Doozergirl

Kiran wrote: »

All the info you require is in here
https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/common_projects/17/extensions

Yes it is.

For the sake of brevity, a single storey extension of 3 metres or less should be under permitted development.

The rules have been temporarily extended to allow you to extend up to 6 metres for an attached dwelling under something called the 'prior notification' scheme. You have to make an application of sorts and your neighbours are consulted. If one objects, a planning officer will review the case and decide if it is allowed.

It doesn't take much less longer than a full planning application and you could be pushed into the route of a full planning application anyway, resulting in waiting even longer. You need to be sure that any neighbour sharing any boundary won't complain.

I think that a full application is free if it's for a disabled person, so it might be worth doing it anyway, perhaps, if that might be applicable to your aunt?

My council still operates a free drop-in clinic. If your offers this, you will find it invaluable.

bretts

My council completely stopped 6 meter extension, but my neighbour has done one up which is a 6 meter but he did it before council stopped doing it. But I guess councils are bullies, it is still part of permitted development subject to consultation, I read somewhere that if council changes the rule due to section 4 which is to stop the 6 meter extension completely, one would not have to pay for the planning permission, I brought this to the attention of my council and they just said if you want a 6 meter now, first there is no way you will get it and secondly you have to apply for a full planning permission application otherwise we will not even accept your application.
I dont know if my application will be given a go ahead but it is really frustrating, but I would suggest you call them and ask, since I am in london and you are too, you never know if your council has blocked the 6 meter extensions completely.

planning_officer

bretts wrote: »

My council completely stopped 6 meter extension, but my neighbour has done one up which is a 6 meter but he did it before council stopped doing it. But I guess councils are bullies, it is still part of permitted development subject to consultation, I read somewhere that if council changes the rule due to section 4 which is to stop the 6 meter extension completely, one would not have to pay for the planning permission, I brought this to the attention of my council and they just said if you want a 6 meter now, first there is no way you will get it and secondly you have to apply for a full planning permission application otherwise we will not even accept your application.
I dont know if my application will be given a go ahead but it is really frustrating, but I would suggest you call them and ask, since I am in london and you are too, you never know if your council has blocked the 6 meter extensions completely.

I think you mean your Council has served an Article 4 Direction - which removes a particular type of permitted development in a specific area. A Council needs a good reason to serve one, they can't just apply them willy-nilly all over the place. My Council has in fact got none!


Yes, you're right about the fee - if an extension that would have been permitted development is no longer PD due to an Article 4 Direction and requires a planning application - there is no fee.

planning_officer

Doozergirl is right, apart maybe from the advice about submitting a planning application. If a larger extension (between 3m and 6m) is applied for under the Prior Notification scheme, then if nobody objects, Prior Approval is not required (in plain English = it is allowed) and the Council cannot assess it.


However, if the same extension is applied for under a planning application, the Council has to assess it - they may consider it affects a neighbour, or is a poor design, and refuse it. They cannot assess those things with a Prior Notification if nobody objects.


So, I would show your plans to the neighbours and if they say they're happy, then do a Prior Notification. It's free too.