Our guide to planning permission for conservatories and orangeries...

Most small conservatories or orangeries do not require planning permission and those that fall within the regulations rarely cause problems for the planners. Oakminster in-house planning team will be please to assist with this process and most applications are successful. 

Adding a conservatory to your house is considered to be permitted development, not needing an application for planning permission, subject to the limits and conditions listed below.

• No more than half the area of land around the original house* would be covered by additions or other buildings.

• No extension forward of the principal elevation or side elevation fronting a highway.

• No extension to be higher than the highest part of the roof.

• Maximum depth of a single-storey rear extension of three metres for an attached house and four metres for a detached house.

• Maximum height of a single-storey rear extension of four metres.

• Maximum depth of a rear extension of more than one storey of three metres including ground floor.

• Maximum eaves height of an extension within two metres of the boundary of three metres.

• Maximum eaves and ridge height of extension no higher than existing house.

• Side extensions to be single storey with maximum height of four metres and width no more than half that of the original house.

• Roof pitch of extensions higher than one storey to match existing house.

• No verandas, balconies or raised platforms.

• On designated land* no permitted development for rear extensions of more than one storey; no cladding of the exterior; no side extensions.

Please note: the permitted development allowances described here apply to houses not flats, maisonettes or other buildings. Where work is proposed to a listed building, listed building consent may be required.* The term original house means the house as it was first built or as it stood on 1 July 1948 (if it was built before that date). Although you may not have built an extension to the house, a previous owner may have done so.* Designated land includes national parks and the Broads, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, conservation areas and World Heritage Sites.The council has eight weeks from the date of application to give you a decision before you have the right to appeal to the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. However appeals can take several months to decide and it may be quicker to reach agreement with the council. Where it is clear that planning consent is going to be difficult to obtain, it may be helpful to gain support from your local councillor who sits on the planning committee so that one person at least is briefed to support your application. In addition you would be best advised to consult an experienced architect or planning specialist, alternatively we may be able to help.

You may also be interested to visit the Governments Planning Portal where you can view a very helpful interactive guide explaining these points in greater detail Click here