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.

While the Building Safety Act itself is from 2022, many of its provisions are coming into force / are evolving in 2025. These are the main features to highlight:

The government publishes Approved Documents, which demonstrate how the requirements of the Building Regulations may be satisfied.

They are not the only means of satisfying these requirements. Other ways can include using guidance published by the British Standards Institute, Building Research Establishment etc.

The requirements of the Building Regulations can be divided into 13 different subjects:

Certain buildings and works are exempt from control under the Building Regulations.