Do I Need Planning Permission to Extend My Home?
If you love your Oxfordshire home but need more space, you may be considering an extension. The process may seem daunting, but at H & OB Building, based in Witney, Oxfordshire, we are highly experienced in taking our customers through planning and giving them the extension they’ve been dreaming of with the minimum of delay and hassle.
Know Your Rights
If you build within your permitted development rights, you will not usually need planning permission for an extension in the Oxfordshire area.
H & OB Building can work with you to ascertain your development rights and restrictions. You will probably find that restrictions apply to work on the front of a house, next to a road or near a boundary (the edge of your enclosed space such as a fence or a wall). We can advise on and accommodate any restrictions and devise the perfect plan to extend your living space, whether you need additional bedrooms or bathrooms, a bigger kitchen or just want more room to relax, exercise or work.
This useful article from Homebuilding & Renovation magazine, Building an Extension: How to Plan, Budget, and Manage Your Project, provides more information about the process of building an extension.
Building regulation approval is required for all works. Please check out our handy building regulations page for more information.
When Do I Need Planning Permission?
One Storey Extension
The lowdown: you WILL need planning permission for a one-storey extension under the following circumstances:
- New build surrounds more than 50% of the ‘original house’. This means the ‘dwellinghouse’ – the house as it was when it was first built or as it stood on 1 July 1948 if it was built before then.
- House faces onto a highway.
If your home faces onto a public right of passage, such as a road, and you’d like the extension at the front or side, you may require planning permission. - Build will be higher than the highest point of the roof.
- Height of the eaves is more than 3 metres.
- There are additions, such as verandas, balconies, raised platforms, an antenna, and a chimney, flue, or pipe.
- Alterations are made to the existing house.
- Extends beyond the rear of the ‘original house’ by over 6 metres (semi) or 8 metres* (detached house).
Two Storey Extension
For a rear two-storey extension, you WILL need planning permission under the following circumstances:
- Extension extends beyond the rear of the ‘original house’ by over 3 metres.
- Build position is within 7 metres of the boundary of the opposite rear wall or fence.
- Side-facing windows aren’t obscure-glazed and can open (unless the opening part is 1.7 metres from the floor of the room).
- The build has a roof pitch that does not match the existing house.
What Are The Costs Involved In Planning Permission?
Firstly, you will need to apply for planning permission. The cost of the application depends upon the size of the property. For example, a domestic building (home) will be between £200 and £500. The price depends on the size and complexity of the planned build.
What Happens If I Build Without Planning Permission?
If you fail to get planning permission or break planning conditions, this is known as a planning breach. The authorities can issue you with an enforcement notice, asking you to restore things to their original state. This can have significant cost implications and cause you a lot of inconvenience and stress.
You have the right to appeal against an enforcement notice. If your appeal is unsuccessful, disobeying this enforcement is against the law, and you may face further costly legal action and fines.
How Can I Make The Process As Painless As Possible?
If you are considering extending your home outside of restrictions, H&OB Building highly recommends that you obtain planning permission.
When you employ H&OB Building to carry out your extension, we will take care of all planning applications on your behalf. Although you may choose to do this through your own architect, when you employ us for your new build extension project, we can handle everything for you, from the design, drawings, planning and building regulations paperwork to the structural calculations.
We will provide all the necessary support and advice and handle your job in the most stress-free way, from planning to construction, all in one convenient, time-efficient and economical package. You will be enjoying your newly spacious home in no time! Contact us today to find out more.
Talk To Us For Help And Advice
At H & OB Building, we are highly experienced in the field of building extensions and all the legal and planning criteria involved. We are always happy to take a look at your prospective project and draw on our experience. H&OB Building will advise on planning permission in the West Oxfordshire area. Contact us today to discuss your dream extension, and let us make your vision a reality.