Planning law and building regulation requirements vary throughout the countries that make up the United Kingdom. Local restrictions often also apply.
These rules exist to control development of the character and amenity of an area, so if your property is a listed building or in a conversation area, you will always need planning permission before starting work, followed by building regulations approval. As will anyone living in: a National Park; an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; the Norfolk or Suffolk Broads; any other local/national designation.
In addition, it’s sensible to talk to your neighbours as soon as possible in case your proposals will adversely affect them, eg by overlooking their property or blocking out light. Discussing any concerns early on will make life much easier, especially if planning permission is required, in which case your local council’s planning team will contact them automatically to find out if there are any objections.
The law relating to ‘permitted developments’ – ie building work that doesn’t need planning permission – varies according to, among other things:
• property type, with different rules for houses compared with other buildings
• the height and width of any new addition
• which part of the UK you live; each area has its own planning portal with a wealth of information – including contact details for your local planning office – that you can access using these links:
•
England
•
Northern Ireland
•
Scotland
•
Wales
In many cases, a conservatory could be considered a permitted development but you must not assume that this will be the case: always seek expert advice before starting work.
Any
professional conservatory contractor will know what is allowed and when planning permission and/or buildings regulations approval is needed, with most firms offering to manage planning applications as part of their service.
You may, however, prefer to
handle your own planning application; full guidance is available from your local planning office.
NB 1 Being granted any necessary planning permission is not the same as ensuring that your work complies with buildings regulations, or vice versa; the two matters are entirely separate and each must be addressed in its own right.
NB2 If you know, or suspect, that your home may be a bat roost – or if it provides a refuge for any other protected species – before doing anything in connection with your conservatory, you must get appropriate regional advice:
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Countryside Council for Wales
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Natural England
•
Northern Ireland Environment Agency
•
Scottish National Heritage
