Do I need approval?
- Introduction, fees and forms
- Internal alterations of your property
- Building or altering a garden or boundary wall
- Building an extension to a house or flat
- Building a garage extension
- Building a detached garage or ancillary building
- Converting or altering a loft space
- Installing replacement windows
- Converting a house into flats
- Converting a house into a shop or office
- Converting all or part of an office or shop
- Installing, altering or replacing a shopfront
- Installing plumbing, waste removal and heating appliances
- Re-wire
- Carrying out repairs to your property
Generally, you need to get approval to build an extension to your house or flat. However, if you are building a porch or conservatory at ground level and it is less than 30 square metres in floor area, fitted with safety glazing and separated from the rest of the house by a full-height, full-width door, it will be exempt from control under the Building Regulations and you will not need to apply.
If there is a window above the conservatory or porch that serves a loft conversion or room in the roof that is needed for means of escape in case of fire, it must remain accessible by ladder from the ground after the conservatory or porch has been built or alternative escape provisions made.
For an extension to be considered to be a conservatory, in addition to the above specifications, at least 75% of its roof and 50% of its wall must be glazed.
Whether or not you need Building Regulations approval, you may need Planning Permission. The Planning Control section will be able to advise you in this matter.
If you are building within six metres of another building or structure you may have obligations under the Party Wall Act 1996. You should consult a party wall surveyor or advisor for guidance in this matter.
