When adding a conservatory to your home, it is important to understand planning and building regulations. Whether you need planning permission or not will depend on the size of your conservatory, and your local council. The process is complicated and can take many months to obtain. In the UK, the planning and building regulations rules on conservatories have changed in recent years.
For most houses, planning permission is not required for smaller conservatories. However, if you want to add an extension to a detached house or semi-detached house, you will need to go through a neighbour consultation scheme. You also need to apply for building regulations approval. If you have a conservatory that is larger than one storey, you need to get planning permission. The conservatory’s maximum height and width must not exceed 50% of the original structure. If you wish to have a front facing conservatory, the property must be at a distance of “considerable distance” from a main road.
You can’t build a conservatory more than eight metres from the rear wall of your house. You can also build a conservatory in a conservation area, but you need to know about specific rules in your region. For example, you will have to get Listed Building Consent if you are planning to build a conservatory on a historic property, or you will need to follow the Party Wall Act 1996 if you are building on a boundary.
You will need to get planning permission if you plan to remove the exterior walls of your house. The roof of the conservatory should be translucent and the glazing in the windows should be compatible with current U Values. In addition, you will need to consult with your neighbours if the extension is near a boundary. If you are building on a listed building, you will need Listed Building Consent and a Certificate of Lawful Use.
The size of your conservatory will also depend on your property’s size. A terraced house cannot exceed three metres in length, and a detached house must not exceed four meters. If you are unsure about your size, it is best to contact your local council’s Planning Department for advice.
For detached and semi-detached houses, you must not extend the size of your conservatory more than two metres from the rear wall of your house. If you are constructing a single storey rear extension, it must not be more than three metres in length, and must not extend beyond the rear wall of the original house. You will also need to get planning permission if you want to install a new structural opening between your house and your conservatory.
If you are unsure of what to do, it is advisable to get a free quote from a reputable company. Your local expert installer can help you get planning permission and make sure the conservatory is built in line with building regulations.
The cost of applying for planning permission can vary depending on your location, but you will need to pay for design documents and planning fees. The cost of applying for building regulations will also vary. There are different rules for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The most common rule is that the conservatory must be under four metres high and not more than half the width of the house. If you have any doubts about the requirements of your conservatory, contact your local building control department.
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