Planning for an extension?

Lally

I am on this site http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/planningguidehouseholders
but it just has too much info for me to find what I need....

I am looking at a small 2 bed semi and I am wondering if we could extend it, and if so by much. Is there an upper limit on how much you can extend a property by?

If we put a garage with a room above it on the side, we could almost be doubling the living space. Is this allowed?

woodbutcher_2

On a terrace house you are allowed 50 cubic mts OR adding no more than 10% of the original volume.These are your permitted development rights.Anything over,you need planning permission.This is if you have never had any previous additions to the original house.

woodbutcher_2

Sorry,just seen you are in a semi.So that goes up to 70 cubic mts and no more than 15%.

Lally

What about with permission, how much could we add?

woodbutcher_2

That would depend on your local planning department.You could go to them with rough sketches of what you want to do and they may tell you if they have a chance of being passed.I did this once when i wanted a double height extension and they told me not to have plans drawn up and submitted as they were unlikely to be passed.You have a far better chance if someone has already done what you intend to do in your locality.

planning_officer

woodbutcher wrote: »

Sorry,just seen you are in a semi.So that goes up to 70 cubic mts and no more than 15%.

Also, permitted development rights are not totally dependent on volume - there are other criteria too. If you are planning a side extension, you cannot go within 2m of the boundary if it will be 4m or greater in height.

woodbutcher_2

Yeah,got that problem at my own house now.Also within three mts of a manhole so need Water authority approval.I hate red tape.