Builders in Ashford, Kent

Planning Permission for Conservatories
It’s known that approximately 60% of all conservatories to be built will require planning permission.
The following details are for general guidance only, and are general requirements for all areas within England and Wales. Please consult your relevant local authority for any specific requirements for the property concerned.
Builders/developers permission:On some new housing builds, the developers sometimes insert a clause in the deeds or create covenants requiring “their permission” to extend the original house. This permitted development rights (PD rights) usually has a fixed time limit (may run to several years) after which the “PD Rights” may be withdrawn or expire and control goes back to the local authority where formal planning consent may be required. This should be checked by you if this situation is the case. In some cases a  fee may be charged by the developer for him to issue your “permission”. The fee should cover their reasonable administration costs of doing this letter to you. There are instances whereby some developers have asked for quite large sums.
Definition of a conservatory:A conservatory is defined as "a building that has not less than seventy five percent of its roof area made of translucent material (e.g. glass or polycarbonate), and not less than fifty percent of its total wall area made of glass or translucent material."
Planning permission:This is the process and ultimate decision as to whether or not you can build a particular structure in a particular place, and it is concerned with the visual impact and size of the structure for example. It is not the structural integrity of the construction that is assessed.
Under new regulations that came into effect from 1 October 2008 adding a conservatory to your home is considered to be permitted development, not needing an application for planning permission, subject to the following limits and conditions:

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.

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.

General Notes:
Even if you do not require formal planning permission, you can apply for a “certificate of lawful development”. This is issued again by the planning department at your local authority. It is a document which you can usefully produce if you come to sell your house in the future. It demonstrates that you have checked and indeed you didn’t need planning permission. Otherwise your buyer and his conveyance solicitor has to take your word for it! Obviously, the matter can be reviewed retrospectively at the time and depending on your buyer’s insistencies on having the i’s dotted and t’s crossed– it may slow the house sale down.
Please note that it is you, the house owner who is responsible for these matters. You cannot rely on ignorance or the fact that “so and so told me it was ok.” whether “so and so” was/is the builder or the conservatory salesman!
If in doubt – ask your local planning officer for help. They are generally very helpful and will give out good advice.
You can explore more on planning and building regulations by clicking on the following link ~
Communities and Local Government website
Building Regulations for Conservatories
In general terms, a domestic conservatory is exempt under UK building regulations. Listed below however are some of the exemptions requirements under building regulations 1991 (as amendments). This check list MUST be met for a conservatory to be classified as “exempt”.
1. The conservatory building must have a transparent or translucent roof.

2. At least half of the wall area and at least 75% of the roof area must be glazing or translucent material. The conservatory floor area should not exceed 30m².

4. The conservatory must be constructed at ground level.

5. The conservatory is to be separated from the house or property by means of a physical barrier (this normally means you don’t breach the existing house wall such as taking out windows and doors to form an open archway). Doors forming the barrier should be external grade quality (therefore putting standard internal doors in the opening wont comply). 

6. The glazing satisfies the Building Regulations part N. schedule I (using toughened/safety glass).
7. You should use an electrical installer who is registered with a competent person scheme to seek approval from a Building Control body. This is true for most work. However, you do not need to tell them about repairs, replacements and maintenance work or extra power points or lighting points or other alterations to existing circuits (except in a kitchen or bathroom, or outdoors).