Planning Practice Note
Permitted developments for householders
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this Practice Note is to give information on the types of minor development which householders can carry out on their own property without having to obtain express planning permission from the LPA. It is issued without prejudice to the application of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 as amended.
WHAT IS PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT (PD)?
Permitted development (PD) is development which has been granted planning permission by Central Government through the General Permitted Development Order 1995. The amount of PD which may be allowable in any particular case may depend on some or all of the following:
- its location;
- its position on the site;
- its size;
- its height;
- Its height in relation to existing structures;
- the extent of any previous development on the site.
Removal of PD rights
Permitted development rights are sometimes removed by directions made by the LPA or by conditions of planning permission. The advice given in this Practice Note will not apply in such cases.
Please seek advice before starting work
The assessment of whether a proposal is PD or whether express planning permission will be required is often complex. While this guide may prove useful, you should seek confirmation that your interpretation of any PD rights is correct before starting work.
Please telephone Planning Support for advice.
LISTED BUILDINGS
The advice given in this leaflet does not apply to listed buildings or their curtilages. Most of the developments described would require listed building consent. If your property is a listed building, please ask for advice before starting work.
BUILDING REGULATION APPROVAL
Many of the developments described in this leaflet require approval under the Building Regulations. Please telephone the Building Control section for advice before starting work (01584) 813369.
DEFINITIONS
Original dwelling is the dwelling:
- as it existed in 1948;
- if built since 1948, as built.
AONB is the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Highway includes a footpath or bridleway shown on Shropshire County Council's Definitive Map.
Curtilage. Normally this consists of the garden area of the dwelling.
Extension to dwelling includes:
- any building in the curtilage of the dwelling over 10m3:
- in the AONB or a conservation area;
- within 5 metres of the original dwelling;
- any existing building which would be within 5 metres of the dwelling when extended.
'Purposes incidental to the enjoyment of the dwelling as such' includes the keeping of poultry, bees, pets, birds or other livestock. But the provision only extends to reasonable domestic requirements, not to developments or uses of a commercial nature or of an excessive scale.
PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT (PD)
Extensions to dwellings
The enlargement, improvement or other alteration of a dwelling is PD if:
- the increase in its cubic content above that of the original dwelling is no more than:
- for terraced dwellings and those in the AONB or a conservation area - 50 m3 or 10% whichever is greater;
- in other cases - 70m3 or 15% whichever is greater;
- in any case - 115m3;
- no part is higher than the highest part of the roof of the original dwelling;
- no part is nearer to any highway than:
- any part of the original dwelling;
- any point 20 metres from the highway;
- no part is:
- within 2 metres of a boundary and
- over 4 metres in height;
- it covers less than 50% of the remaining curtilage;
- in the AONB or a conservation area, it does not consist of any external cladding.
Alterations to roofs of houses
An extension which changes the shape of a roof is PD if:
- the increase in volume of the dwelling is no more than:
- 40m3 in the case of a terraced house;
- 50m3 in other cases;
- it is not on a roof slope facing a highway;
- no part is higher than the highest part of the existing roof;
- it is not in the AONB or a conservation area.
Other alterations are PD if they do not change the shape of the roof.
Porches
Porches are PD if:
- the ground area is no more than 3m2;
- they are no more than 3 metres high;
- no part is within 2 metres of a highway.
Curtilage buildings
Garages, sheds, greenhouses, swimming pools etc. are PD if:
- no part is nearer to any highway than:
- any part of the original dwelling;
- any point 20 metres from the highway;
whichever is nearer to the highway;
- no part is higher than:
- 4 metres in the case of a building with a ridged roof;
- 3 metres in any other case;
- they cover less than 50% of the remaining curtilage;
- their cubic content is no more than 10m3 if the building is:
- in the AONB or a conservation area;
- in the curtilage of a listed building;
- within 5 metres of the dwelling;
- the purpose of the building is 'incidental to the enjoyment of the dwelling as such'.
Hard surfaces within the curtilage
These are PD if the purpose is 'incidental to the enjoyment of the dwelling as such' and ground levels are not raised or lowered.
Tanks for domestic heating oil
These are PD if:
- their volume is not over 3500 litres;
- no part is higher than 3 metres;
- no part is nearer to any highway than:
- any part of the original dwelling; or
- any point 20 metres from the highway
whichever is nearer to the highway.
LPG tanks
These always require planning permission.
Satellite antennas
A satellite antenna on a dwelling is PD if:
- no dimension exceeds:
- 45cm on a roof;
- 90cm in any other case;
- there is no other satellite antenna on the building;
- if mounted on a roof, no part is higher than the highest part of the roof;
- if mounted on a chimney no part is higher than the highest part of the chimney;
- in the AONB or a conservation area:
- it is not on a chimney;
- it is not on a building over 15m high;
- it is not on a wall or roof slope facing a highway.
Gates walls and fences
These are PD if:
- they do not exceed 1 metre high adjacent to a highway used by vehicles;
- 2 metres high in any other case.
Means of access
These are PD if the highway is not a trunk or classified road (class 1, 2 or 3).
Painting, repairs and maintenance
Painting the exterior of a building is PD so long as the work is not an advertisement. Repairs (including replacement windows and doors), maintenance and internal works do not require planning permission.
Working from home
You do not need planning permission to work from your home so long as you do not change the character of the dwelling. This is usually taken to mean using only one room of your home for your business. You should ask for advice if you intend to:
- employ people;
- have people calling;
- undertake car repairs or work outdoors;
- have more than 2 rooms for paying guests.
© Copyright South Shropshire District Council,
Stone House, Corve Street,
Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 1DG.
Tel: (01584) 813000
Fax: (01584) 813128
e-mail: planning@southshropshire.gov.uk
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Subscribe to changes to this page here.Author: Planning and Building Control. Last Updated: 13/2/2007.
