You can download it by clicking this link here.

Once validated, the application will then be assigned to a Case Officer and your 8 weeks (ahem…) timetable for a decision begins. However, failure to provide the necessary information will delay the validation of the application and the submission will not go anywhere until the missing documents, detail, crossed ‘T’ or dotted ‘i’ are provided.

Enjoy reading through it over the Christmas break everyone!

This means that detached dwellings can have single storey rear extensions up to 8m deep and semis / terraces up to 6m deep…!

It’s not quite that straightforward (whatever is?) and you should always take professional advice as there are lots of tricky little ways to trip up with PD Rights and it doesn’t apply everywhere (e.g. Conservation Areas, National Parks, Listed Buildings etc.) and if you’ve already had extensions carried out they may preclude. Likewise, conditions attached to any existing planning permission may have already withdrawn Class A PD Rights…

Using the “larger extensions” PD still requires prior notification to the local planning authority who will then consult your neighbours as well; if there are no objections then the LPA should approve the application by default.

The process is the same that it has been since they brought in the “larger extensions” a few years ago; the change is that you no longer MUST complete the build by May 2019.

Remember, if in doubt, take professional advice!

1.   The deadline for completing construction of your “larger” single storey rear extensions (i.e. between 4m and 8m long) has been extended by another three years to May 2019. Before you all rush out and start building there are, of course, hurdles to jump through first.

2. Of perhaps more interest is that they’ve finally closed the loophole for front extensions under Permitted Development Rights.

The out-going legislation refused extensions as unlawful if they came forward of the principal elevation AND fronted a highway. Obviously, those with houses that didn’t face the highway had very little to stop them doubling / tripling the size of their home by coming forwards without the need to involve the pesky planning authority….

That is now all changing as the April 2015 legislation (or Statutory Instrument SI 2015 No. 596 to give it its proper title) changes Article 3 Schedule 2 Part 1 clause A.1(e) to read “(i) forms the principal elevation of the original dwellinghouse; or (ii) fronts a highway and forms a side elevation of the original dwellinghouse….”.

It may seem like a small change but the impact will be to simply close the loophole for front extensions entirely, regardless of their orientation to the nearest highway.

If you really want to read the whole SI, you can find it here:

2015 No. 596 TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING, ENGLAND The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015

The Government have announced that as of May 30th 2013 for a period of 3 years that single storey rear extensions may be doubled in size. To take advantage of this a neighbour consultation period has been included for the ‘larger’ rear extensions and the local planning authority will take a view on whether the larger extensions are acceptable or not.

The deadline for completion of any larger extensions is 30th May 2016 – note, this is not a deadline to apply for one but for the completion of the work.

Read the Government’s draft guidance here: http://bit.ly/15vsvuT

The Government have announced an amendment to the proposed increase in Permitted Development Rights for single storey rear extensions.

Under current consideration is a proposal to double the depth of single storey rear extensions from 3m and 4m for semi/ terrace and detached houses. This temporary change (for three years) will not apply to areas currently protected under PDR, eg Conservation Areas, AONB etc.

The latest change is to propose that should you wish to exercise the larger option then a consultation with your neighbours will be carried out by the local planning authority (you now have to formally inform them before carrying out the work)  and your neighbours will have 21 days to object. On receipt of an objection then the LPA will consider the impact of the proposals and if they agree with your neighbour then the proposal will be refused. You will be allowed to appeal this, submit a smaller proposal or submit a planning application instead.

Anyone wanting detailed advices on Permitted Development Rights should contact our nearest office.

Read more at the Planning Portal website:

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/general/news/stories/2013/apr13/250413/25042013_1

http://www.permitteddevelopment.org/Appeal-Decisions.php

READ IT HERE

As we predicted – there are NO planned changes to the current Permitted Development Rights in Conservation Areas, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty or National Parks. In addition, there are no planned changes to the current Permitted Development Rights for Listed Buildings.

The safeguards that are inherent within the existing PDR remain in force for these Article 1(5) areas. The principal changes that will be of interest to the majority of our clients relate simply to single storey rear extensions but, as noted above, this does not apply in every instance.

The Consultation document suggests, somewhat misleadingly in our opinion, that this will save householders time and money. We would always advocate obtaining a Lawful Development Certificate for any work you intend to do under what you beleive are Permitted Development Rights – there may be other, more hidden, legislation such as detailed Article 4 Directives, that have reduced the scope of PDR for your property.

Always remember as well that planning permission and / or Permitted Development Rights do not auomatically confer a “right to build”. There is a wealth of other legislation that needs to be navigated including Building Regulations, Party Wall etc Act, Rights of Light, Restrictive Covenants, proximity to shared drains / public sewers or other services etc etc.

Obtaining clear professional advice from the outset is the best way of avoiding a potentially very costly mistake!

Earlier this year Waverley Borough Council refused planning permission for  the contemporary remodelling of a house in Greenbelt outside Farnham, Surrey because of the 24sqm extension on the rear of the existing 516sqm house was “too large”.

However, this week planning permission was approved for our revised scheme which not only included all of the remodelling works under the original application but also included a rear extension of over 100sqm, some four times larger than that originally refused…

The difference? The additional 102sqm was secured using Permitted Development Rights making the planning application simpler and just about the change from a 1960’s stone clad sprawling bungalow created over 40 years of ad hoc extensions in to a single unified architectural composition

Waverley Borough Council earlier this year refused a planning application for a modest 250sqft (24sqm) single storey rear extension, citing that the 5% increase to the 5,500sqft (500sqm) house was “too much”.

As a result, we advised our client that we could secure them an extension of over four times this through our detailed understanding and knowledge of the Technical Advice of the  Permitted Development Rights and this week the planners were left with no option but to approve our application for a Lawful Development Certificate for a single storey rear extension of 1,100sqft despite the property being in Green Belt.