Conservatory Planning Permission

Many home owners have a goal to expand their property. This may be to add value to the property with a view to selling it and making a profit. Or it could simply be to expand their living space.

Building a conservatory is a great way to do this. Adding a conservatory will increase the area of your home and can create a whole new room. Plus it can be considerably cheaper and easier to build than a traditional extension.

However, there are a number of hoops you’ll need to jump through before you can build your conservatory. One of these is possibly getting planning permission. Read on to find out more about planning permission and whether you’ll need it.

What is planning permission?

Planning permission is something you may need to get before you do a certain piece of building work. You can get it by applying to your local planning authority.

Your local planning authority will check if your building work needs planning permission. If it does, they’ll use local and national planning guidelines to decide whether to grant you permission. When making this decision they’ll consider the size and appearance of whatever you want to build, and its access, use and effect on your neighbours.

Do I need planning permission to build a conservatory?

You don’t need to apply for planning permission to build a conservatory adjoining your house if the conservatory meets a number of conditions. These include it:

  • Being no higher than 4 metres or the highest part of the house roof, whichever is lower
  • Not being on the front of your house or between your house and a road
  • Extending no further than 8 metres from your rear wall if your house is detached, or 6 metres if your house is attached
  • Extending no further than half the width of your house from a side wall

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The Planning Portal has a full list of these conditions – make sure you read them carefully.

If your house is a listed building, or is built on designated land, it’s best to contact your local planning authority before going ahead with your conservatory. This is because additional regulations apply in these cases. Designated land includes

  • National parks
  • Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
  • Conservation areas
  • World Heritage Sites

If you want to build a conservatory adjoining your ground floor flat, a converted house or a different type of building, you should also seek advice from your local planning authority.

How do I contact my local planning authority or apply for planning permission?

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If you need to contact your local planning authority, they should have details on their website. If you’re not sure who your local authority is, the government has an online service to help you.

If you need to apply for planning permission, you should apply online to your local planning authority through the Planning Portal.

So hopefully you’re now clearer on what planning permission is and whether you’ll need it to build your conservatory. The most important thing to remember is that you shouldn’t start building work unless you’re 100% sure you don’t need planning permission. If you’re still unsure, contact your local planning authority for advice.