Categories: general_news
      Date: Oct  1, 2015
     Title: Permitted Development Rights - House extensions (England 2025)

Most homeowners can extend their property without needing planning permission under Permitted Development Rights (PD), provided certain limits and conditions are met. These rights apply only to houses (not flats or maisonettes) and may be restricted in conservation areas, national parks, or where an Article 4 Direction is in force.

Key limits and conditions

• Location
  • Extension must not extend beyond the principal elevation (front of the house) or a side elevation facing a highway.
  • Side extensions allowed only for single-storey and must be less than half the width of the original house.
• Height
  • Maximum overall height: 4m for a single-storey extension.
  • Maximum eaves height: 3m if within 2m of a boundary.
  • For multi-storey extensions, ridge height cannot exceed the existing house.
• Depth (rear extensions)
  • Detached house: up to 4m deep (single storey), or 3m deep (two storeys).
  • Semi-detached/terrace: up to 3m deep (two storeys).
  • Larger single-storey rear extensions (up to 8m for detached, 6m for semi/terrace) may be possible under the Neighbour Consultation Scheme.
• Coverage
  • Extensions (together with other outbuildings) must not cover more than 50% of the curtilage (the land around the house as it stood in 1948).
• Materials & design
  • Materials should be similar in appearance to the existing house.
  • Roof pitch on extensions higher than one storey should match the existing house where practical.
• Upper floors / balconies
  • No verandas, balconies, or raised platforms are allowed under PD.
  • Two-storey extensions must be at least 7m from the rear boundary.