Yes we do have an approved architectural design service that we recommend, and can introduce to potential clients if needed, all of which are accredited and as a company we have used in past projects.

Not in all cases is planning permission required, BUT. There is a fine line and it’s normally best to approach your local Councils Planning Department for further advice.

Here Are Some Guidelines For Reference Purposes And Not A Definitive Source Of Legal Information:

Extensions to the front of a property:

Planning permission will almost always be required for extensions to the front of a dwelling house.

This is because extensions which extend beyond a wall which fronts a highway and forms the principal elevation of the dwelling house are not considered to be permitted development.

Rear Extensions

Planning permission will not normally be required, subject to the following restrictions:

· The total area of ground covered by the extension as well as other buildings within the curtilage (excluding the original house) must not exceed 50% of the total area of the curtilage (excluding the
ground area of the original house).
· The height of the extension must not exceed the highest part of the roof of the existing house.
· The height of the eaves of the extension must not exceed the height of the eaves of the existing house.
· If the height of the eaves of the extension exceeds 3m, the extension must be at least 2m from any
boundary.
· If the extension is to be of a single storey, it must not extend beyond the rear wall of the original house by more than 4m in the case of a detached house, or 3m in the case of any other house and must not exceed 4m in height.
· If the extension is to be of more than one storey, it must not extend beyond the rear wall of the original house by more than 3m and it must be 7m or more from any boundary of the curtilage opposite the rear wall of the house.

Side Extensions

Please Note: If the side elevation fronts a highway, planning permission will be required.

Planning permission will not normally be required, subject to the following restrictions:

· The total area of ground covered by the extension as well as other buildings within the curtilage
(excluding the original house) must not exceed 50% of the total area of the curtilage (excluding the
ground area of the original house).
· The height of the extension must not exceed the highest part of the roof of the existing house.
· The height of the eaves of the extension must not exceed the height of the eaves of the existing house.
· If the height of the eaves of the extension exceeds 3m, the extension must be at least 2m from any
boundary.
· The extension must be of a single storey only.
· The extension must not exceed 4m in height.
· The extension must not have a width greater than half that of the original house.

Conditions – These Apply to Both Side and Rear Extensions

Development permitted is subject to the following conditions:

· The materials used in any exterior work (other than those used for a conservatory) must be of a similar appearance to those used in the construction of the existing house.
· Any upper-floor window inserted in a wall or roof slope forming a side elevation of the house must be obscure glazed and be non-opening unless the opening parts are more than 1.7m above the floor of the room in which the window is installed.
· If the extension has more than one storey, the roof pitch of the enlarged part shall, so far as practicable, be the same as the roof pitch of the original house.

Yes in nearly every case regarding an extension building regulations are to be enforced and followed, a majority of the time the architect who has designed and taken your project on can also manage and arrange this for you.

In most cases it will be you local councils building control department that undertake this, they will require your plans and whatever intentions you have, they can then inform you of how much it is going to cost (normally goes by the proposed extension size) and answer any questions you may have.