New planning regulations were laid in Parliament, that will mean that from October 2008 the majority of homeowners will no longer need to get planning permission when extending their existing homes.
The changes will allow people to build both up and out for the first time without needing to pay to up to £1,000 to be granted specific planning permission. As a result, a quarter of all householder applications (80,000) will be removed from the planning system each year.
The new rules strike a balance between freeing homeowners to make improvements and limiting the size of an extension so that neighbours are protected - larger more intrusive extensions will still require permission. In addition, no-one undertaking these types of home improvements will be required to pay any additional council tax on their homes.
Until now, householders have only been able to get either a small loft conversion or a rear extension without requiring planning permission. Anyone who had previously extended their property - by as little a 10% in the case of terraced houses - required planning permission.
The new rules will now allow both and be based on straightforward measurements for what is permissible for loft conversions and rear extensions. For example, a 1 storey extension could be up to 3 metres deep. Non overbearing loft conversions will also be allowed automatic permission.
Rear extensions will no longer have volume caps. Loft conversions continue to have an overall volume cap to control overbearing conversions on larger homes.
Local authorities will be able to introduce local variations by using Local Development Orders to allow bigger extensions or Article 4 Directions to restrict development where necessary.
