Do I Need Planning Permission for a Conservatory?

Thinking of ways you can add a functional space to your home with the extra bonus of increasing your property value? Then you’re probably looking at a conservatory as an option. 

They’re a slightly cheaper alternative to full extensions and provide a warm, bright space for your home that the whole family can enjoy. But during the research phase, a lot of people stop and ask themselves “do I need planning permission for a conservatory?”. They’re right to ask this question, since it’s always good to do your due diligence, but the answer is usually no, you don’t need planning permission for most standard conservatories.

This month at Bosaco, we’re going to take you through the reasons why you don’t need planning permission for a standard conservatory, as well as pointing out changes to that standard idea that could lead to permission being a requirement.

Do I need planning permission for a conservatory?

No, and here’s why: permitted developments. It’s the same as any single-storey extension you make to your property that falls within the permitted development rules. 

Put simply, permitted development rules were introduced to make it easier for people to add or adjust their property in small ways, leaving the red tape for bigger, more complex projects. 

This, in theory, means you should have plenty of room to play with without needing the planning permission. Here is our guide to how big your conservatory can be under the permitted development rules:

1. Your conservatory can extend back from the rear wall of the house by up to six metres for a semi-detached or terraced house, or up to eight metres if it’s a detached house 
2. Your conservatory can be up to four metres in height (but if it sits within two metres of the property boundary, it can only by up to three metres in height)
3. Your conservatory, if built on the side of your house, cannot have a width greater than 50% of the width of the original house

While not something that is usually applicable for a conservatory, it’s worth noting that anything exceeding these measurements will need planning permission – something we’ll cover more next. You may also want to check that there is not an Article 4 Directive in place through your local council as this could overrule your permitted development rights entirely.

When does a conservatory need planning permission?

While the majority of conservatory builds don’t require planning permission, there are some reasons they might. Here are the most common factors that force a project into needing permission:

• Where the conservatory covers more than half of the land around the original house
• Where the conservatory is to be on the front of the house
• Where the conservatory is to be on the side of the house facing onto a road
• Where the conservatory height exceeds that of the roof of the original house
• Where the conservatory extends beyond the original house by more than six metres for a semi-detached house or by eight metres for a detached house
• Where your property is in a designated area
• Where the conservatory is more than 30 square metres in terms of floor space

If you think your plans for a conservatory will mean that you need planning permission, we always recommend you engage the services of a professional architect or building company. This will help ensure that you’re following all the right rules and their industry expertise can help to speed up the process.

Do I need planning permission for a conservatory with a radiator?

No, you don’t need planning permission for a conservatory with a radiator – as long as it’s a standalone radiator. However, if you connect your central heating to a radiator in the conservatory, you will need building regulations approval.

Many people work around this by installing a heating system separate from that of the main house, either with a portable electric heater or with a built-in heating device that can function and be controlled independently of the main house.

Choose a Reliable Construction Company 

Are you thinking of adding a conservatory to your home? Why not enlist the professionals to help you. At Bosaco, we offer a reliable, quality service when undertaking any building services project and can help you navigate the tricky world of planning permission and building regulations. That means all you have to do is sit back and watch things progress. We have all the tradesmen needed to ensure the project goes smoothly, so you can have peace of mind when working with us.

With years of experience from building conservatories and extension to roofing and property refurbishments we are able to help. So wherever you are in Nottingham, contact our friendly team today and you can get a free, no-obligation quote for your conservatory build – we’re always happy to listen to the plans you have in mind for your home.