Do you need planning permission for a conservatory?

There are a number of reasons to consider a conservatory for your home and investing is the perfect way to increase the space and value of your property.

The good news is that conservatories are low cost, particularly for the amazing benefits you get in return and you can add over £9,000 to the value.

What’s important though is knowing if you need planning permission approval. Planning permission allows you to build onto your existing property and if you don’t know the regulations, you could be forced to remove the conservatory altogether.

Reputable conservatory companies will know the ins and outs though, so they’ll be ideally placed to give you all the right information.

Do I need planning permission for my conservatory?

This is definitely one of the most asked questions in regards to a conservatory. So let’s start the answer off by saying conservatories fall under permitted development. What does this mean? Well, basically you won’t need planning permission so long as the conservatory is a certain size.

For any home extension permitted development comes into play when it’s:

  • No more than 50% of the size of the original house
  • Not be built fronting a highway
  • Not including any verandas, balconies or raised platforms
  • Not higher than the highest part of the existing roof
  • No more than four metres high.

There are also some stipulations for when the conservatory is built on the side of your home:

  • The conservatory must not be wider than half the width of the original house
  • The conservatory must not have eaves higher than three metres if within two metres of a boundary.

If the conservatory is built at the back of your home then you’ll also need to ensure:

  • The extension is no more than three metres beyond the rear wall of an original attached house and not more four metres if it’s a detached house
  • The conservatory has eaves no higher than three metres if within two metres of a boundary.

It’s also worth remembering that homes in Conservation Areas and listed buildings may need to apply for planning permission as any changes made to the property need to be approved by your local council.

What happens if I build a conservatory without planning permission?

have permitted development rights. If your conservatory won’t meet the criteria outlined above, or if you’re unsure on a particular aspect, you’ll need to apply for permission.

This won’t cost the earth though and should set you back around £150. The process itself will take up to eight weeks and the chances are your neighbours will be contacted to ensure there are no problems. That’s why it’s often best to discuss your plans with them beforehand.

If you ignore planning permission then you can be fined up to £5,000 and will need your conservatory altered or can even be forced to have it completely demolished. That’s a lot of money being thrown away just for not paying £150.

Rate this post

Tom Crosswell

I have been managing online projects since 1999 and I'm a experienced marketeer, who is well versed in international brand management, online business strategy and developing long term relationships. Through my academic and professional background I am a specialist in generating online loyalty towards brands. My experience has taught me that ultimately business is about relationships and people. For more information see my Google+ page.