As heralded with much fanfare back in the summer the
Government propose to make it quick,
easier and cheaper for homeowners to build small-scale single-storey extensions and conservatories , while
respecting the amenity of neighbours. Consultation on the proposed changes is
open for comment until 24th December.
The aim is to bring
extra work for local construction companies and small traders, as families and businesses who were previously
deterred by the planning process take forward their plans.
It is of course important to ensure that any impact on
neighbours and communities is acceptable. For this reason, safeguards under
planning and other regimes will remain in place, and the changes to permitted
development rights for homeowners and businesses will not apply in protected
areas such as conservation areas, National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural
Beauty and Sites of Special Scientific Interest. These proposals do not remove
the requirement for separate listed building consent.
The Government is proposing action in five areas:
- Increasing
the size limits for the depth of single-storey domestic extensions from 4m to
8m (for detached houses) and from 3m to 6m (for all other houses), in non-protected
areas, for a period of three years. No changes are proposed for extensions of
more than one storey.
To ensure that the amenity of neighbouring properties is protected, other limitations and conditions would remain the same. For example, development will not be able to cover more than 50% of the curtilage of the house, single-storey extensions must not exceed 4m in height, and any extensions which have an eaves height of greater than 3m must not be within 2m of the boundary. In addition, existing protections under other regimes (building regulations, the Party Wall Act or the ‘right to light’, for example) will continue to apply. There is no weakening of the National Planning Policy Framework policies which aim to prevent garden-grabbing. - Increasing the size limits for extensions to
shop and professional/financial services establishments to 100m², and allowing
the building of these extensions up to the boundary of the property (except
where the boundary is with a residential property), in non-protected areas, for
a period of three years.
- Increasing
the size limits for extensions to offices to 100m², in non-protected areas, for a period of three years.
- Increasing
the size limits for new industrial buildings within the curtilage of existing industrial premises to 200m², in non-protected
areas, for a period of three years.
- Removing some prior approval requirements for the installation of broadband infrastructure for a period of five years.
The Government also wish to explore whether there is scope
to use permitted development to make it easier to carry out garage conversions.
Other changes to permitted development are also being taken
forward separately: making it easier for
commercial properties to be converted to residential use; and encouraging the
reuse of existing buildings through making changes of use easier.
If you’d like to comment on these proposals then do so
before the 24th December. The link is here:
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