Your Home and Planning Permission p3
SECTION 1: BUILDING AN EXTENSION
Planning permission is not required provided that:
1. The total ground area covered by the extension and any other buildings within the boundary of the curtilage of the house, excluding the original house, would not exceed 50% of the total area of the curtilage (excluding the ground area of the original house).
2. Any part of the extension is not higher than the highest part of the roof of the existing house.
3. The height of the eaves of the extension are not higher than the eaves of the existing house.
4. Any part of the extension does not extend beyond a wall facing a road if it forms the principal or side elevation of the original house.
5. The eaves are no more than 3 metres in height if any part of the extension is within 2 metres of the boundary of the curtilage of the house.
6. The materials used in any exterior work, other than materials used in the construction of a conservatory, are of similar appearance to those used in the construction of the exterior of the existing house (see Section 2 for Conservatories).
7. An upper floor window located in a wall or roof slope forming a side elevation of the house, which is within 15 metres of any boundary of the curtilage of a neighbouring house is obscure glazed; and is non opening unless the parts which can be opened are more than 1.7 metres above the floor of the
room in which the window is installed.
8. A side extension does not exceed 4 metres in height or be wider than half the width of the original house.
9. In a single storey extension:
a) the extension does not extend beyond the rear wall of the original house by more than 4 metres for a detached house or 3 metres for any other type of house;
b) the height of the extension does not exceed 4 metres at the highest point;
c) no part of the extension is within 3.5 metres of any property boundary with a road opposite the rear wall of the house.
10. In an extension which has more than one storey:
a) the extension does not extend beyond the rear wall of the original house by more than 3 metres;
b) no part of the extension is within 7 metres of the property boundary opposite the rear wall of the house;
c) the roof pitch of the extension is as far as practicable the same as the roof pitch of the original house.
11. If you live in a house within a Conservation Area, Gracehill World Heritage Site or the Antrim Coast and Glens Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty;
a) no part of the exterior of the house is clad with stone, artificial stone, pebbledash, render, timber, plastic or tiles;
b) the extension is not more than 1 storey or 4 metres in height;
c) no part of the extension extends beyond a principal or side elevation of the original house.
Note: Measurements should always be calculated using external measurements.
If you live in a house which is a listed building, it is likely that you will need Listed Building Consent for any building operations.
If the development is within the curtilage of a listed building, you will need to submit a planning application for the work unless listed building consent has already been granted.
The Council’s Planning Department will be able to advise you.
SECTION 2: ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS
Porches
Planning permission is not required for a porch provided that:
1. The ground area is not more than 3 square metres (measured externally).
2. Any part of the porch does not exceed:
a) 3 metres above ground level if the roof is flat or mono pitched; or
b) 3.5 metres above ground level if the roof is dual pitched.
3. Any part of the porch is not closer than 2 metres to any boundary of the curtilage of the house with a road/footpath.
4. The materials used are similar appearance to those used in the construction of the existing house.
Conservatories
A conservatory attached to the house will be treated as an extension and therefore will need to comply with the rules set out in Section 1.
A free-standing conservatory will be subject to the criteria set out in Section 4.
Other dwelling attached to a house e.g. a granny flat
Planning permission is required if it is a separate and self-contained dwelling unit.
If it is not a separate and self-contained unit, such as a granny flat, it will be treated as an extension and therefore will need to comply with the restrictions and limitations as set out in Section 1.
Converting a house, or part of it into one or more flats or apartments
Planning permission is required for converting a house or part of a house into one or more flats, (even where building work is not required) as such conversion is considered a change of use.
Changing part of a house for home working purposes
The use of any part of a house for home working purposes may not require planning permission but this will depend on the scale and nature of the use. For further guidance, see Section 12 of this document on Homeworking.
Demolition
Planning permission is generally not required for demolition. However, if your house lies within a Conservation Area (see Glossary) consent for demolition will be required.
You will also need to apply for planning permission for demolition if your house is located within an Area of Townscape Character (ATC), even if it just includes demolition of walls, gates, fences or other means of enclosure.
In all cases it is recommended that you consult the Council’s Planning Department with the details of the particular proposal and seek their advice.
If you live in a house which is a listed building, it is likely that you will need Listed Building Consent for any building operations.
If the development is within the curtilage of a listed building, you will need to submit a planning application for the work unless listed building consent has already been granted.
The Council’s Planning Department will be able to advise you.
SECTION 3: EXTENSIONS CONSISTING OF AN ADDITION OR ALTERATION TO A ROOF
Roof lights, dormer windows and other roof extensions
Planning permission is not required provided that:
1. No part of the roof light, dormer or extension is higher than the highest part of the existing roof.
2. No part of the roof light, dormer or extension projects by more than 15 centimetres in front of/beyond the plane of any existing roof slope of the house which faces onto a road and forms the principal or side elevation of the house.
3. No part of the roof light, dormer or roof extension is closer than 0.5 metres to the ridge or eaves of the existing roof (measured along the plane of the roof) or any party wall or verge.
4. The additions or alterations do not consist of, or include the construction of a deck, balcony or veranda or other raised platform.
5. The materials used in any exterior work are of similar appearance to those used in the construction of the exterior of the existing house.
6. Any window inserted in a wall or roof slope forming a side elevation within 15 metres of a boundary of a curtilage of a neighbouring house is obscure glazed; and is non-opening unless the parts which can be opened are more than 1.7 metres above the floor of the room in which the window is installed.
7. The house is not in a Conservation Area.
Roof space conversion
The internal alterations to convert a roof space to provide additional living accommodation do not require planning permission.
However, installing dormer windows, inserting roof lights or carrying out other works to alter the roof may need permission – particularly if the roof slope faces onto a road and forms the principal or side elevation of the house (see Roof lights, dormer windows or other roof extensions).
Re-roofing a house
Planning permission is not required providing that the height of the roof is not increased and the materials used are of similar appearance to those of the existing roof.
If you live in a house which is a listed building, it is likely that you will need Listed Building Consent for any building operations.
If the development is within the curtilage of a listed building, you will need to submit a planning application for the work unless listed building consent has already been granted.
The Council’s Planning Department will be able to advise you.