what is permitted development?
Permitted development rights let homeowners carry out certain building work without applying for full planning permission. They apply to houses, not flats or maisonettes. Commercial properties have their own separate set of rights.
These rights can be restricted or removed in designated areas, including:
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
World Heritage Sites
Conservation Areas
National Parks
The Norfolk or Suffolk Broads
Rights can also be removed by an Article 4 Direction or by a condition on an earlier planning permission. A local example is the Clifftown Conservation Area in Southend, Essex, where permitted development rights have been restricted.
common projects
The two most common permitted development projects we see in Leigh-on-Sea, Southend and across Essex are rear extensions and rear dormer loft conversions. A rear extension can open up the ground floor into a modern, open-plan living space, while a rear dormer can add an extra bedroom or two.
Through the larger home extension scheme (prior approval), single-storey rear extensions can go further: up to 8 metres for detached houses and up to 6 metres for other houses, provided the council has no objections after consulting neighbours. It's usually quicker and simpler than a full planning application.
We check what your property can do under permitted development, design within the rules and apply for a Lawful Development Certificate, so you have formal proof the work is lawful when you come to sell.
Not sure if your property still has its permitted development rights? Give us a call for some free advice.