New rules for home extensions

Homeowners and building contractors will benefit from a change to planning application rules for home extensions.

The new rules mean that single-storey rear extensions of up to eight metres won’t need planning permission. The temporary rules bought into action in 2014 have now been made permanent.

Those in terraced houses will now be able to build rear extensions 6m long and 4m high. For detached properties, families can extend by up to 8m x 4m in height.

This means projects can be completed more quickly as they will be unencumbered by a lengthy planning process which can take several weeks.

It means cost savings too, as a full planning application currently costs £462 in England.

Some believe that design quality could be compromised, and local authorities worry communities will lose control to shape the areas they live in.

The new ‘permitted development’ rights include changes to rules on converting shops into offices.

Future changes could follow, with more relaxed rules to planning for rooftop extensions and demolishing offices to be rebuilt as homes, according to commentators.

However, renovating through a home extension could mean the difference between staying or moving for many homeowners who can now gain more space for a growing family.

Over 110,000 extensions have been completed since the measures were bought in on a temporary basis in 2014.

For more information about planning your extension talk to our Roofing Superstore team for a quote. For trade prices and accounts, sign-up to cmotrade now.