Enlarging your home is a great way to add much-needed space and increase its value. Mike Dade shares his top tips for gaining permission for your design

Andrew Overin bought a run-down London terrace knowing it had potential to become the home he’d been looking for. There wasn’t a formal planning permission in place, but that didn’t matter as the wraparound extension and loft conversion came under the property’s PD rights

A dding an extension can be an effective way to get the living space you’re after without moving house. And in some cases, buying a property that has potential to be transformed might also be a better solution than finding an empty plot or getting permission to knock down and rebuild. Whether you need to make a formal planning application for an extension or not will vary from case-to-case depending on a number of factors. So, let’s take a closer look at what does and doesn’t need consent, overarching planning policies on new additions and the key considerations you need to take on board to ensure your project is a success.

The basics

Every kind of extension – one or two storeys; front, side or back; an addition to the roof, a porch or a conservatory – technically requires planning permission. Many already have it thanks to the General Permitted Development (PD) Order, subject to a minefield of criteria and provisos. For instance, in England, PD rights can allow up to an 8m long single-storey rear extension on detached and 6m on attached houses. To build under these conditions you still need to notify the local council, who will then consult your neighbours and look into the impact of your proposal if they end up objecting. Note in other parts of the UK, the limits are 4m and 3m respectively. For more on projects you can do without a formal planning application, see www.self-build.co.uk/permitted-development.