Permitted Development
The law has changed from 1st October 2008. The advice below reflects the new legislation
If you live in a house you can carry out many alterations and additions without needing to apply for planning permission. These alterations and additions, which are listed below, are called “permitted development”. Please note that although work may not need planning permission, you will still need to apply for Building Regulations approval for most internal alterations and extensions.
Most of these permitted development rights do not apply to flats or listed buildings, and the limits are more restrictive for houses in conservation areas. For many modern houses, conditions of the original planning permission for the house remove some or all of these rights. The limits below are not a complete summary of the law. Please contact us if you are unsure.
The term “highway” below includes both roads and footpaths.
- Find out if you need planning permission (Information is provided by the Planning Portal)
- Learn how to apply for planning permission (Information is provided by the Planning Portal)
- Visual Guide for Householders (provided by the Planning portal)
- Factors affecting planning permission (Information provided by the Planning Portal)
- Find out when you need to make a building regulation application
Alterations to the inside of the house
Works that only affect the inside of the existing building, such as knocking down a wall between two rooms or installing a toilet.
Extensions not involving the existing roof
All front extensions and extensions towards a road to the side need permission. Other extensions must not result in more than half of the original grounds of the house (not including the area covered by the original house itself) being covered in buildings, and must not be higher than the existing roof
Single-storey rear extensions must not project more than 4 metres from the original house if the house is detached, or 3 metres if the house is semi-detached or terraced, and must not exceed 4 metres in height
Rear extensions with more than one storey must not project more than 3 metres or be within 7 metres of the opposite boundary
The eaves height must not exceed 3 metres within 2 metres of boundary
Side extensions must not exceed 4 metres in height, have more than one storey or be greater than half the width of the original house
In Conservation Areas, cladding needs permission, all side extensions need permission and all rear extensions with more than one storey need permission
The above limits are subject to the following conditions:
- Materials shall be of a similar appearance to those used in the exterior of the existing house
- Roof pitch of extensions with more than one storey shall be the same as the original house
Extensions consisting of an addition or alteration to the roof
- Must not exceed highest part of existing roof
- Not allowed on front facing a highway
- Volume limit of 40 cubic metres for terraced houses and 50 cubic metres for other dwellings
- Not allowed in conservation areas
- Materials shall be of a similar appearance to those used in the exterior of the existing house
- Other than in the case of a hip-to gable enlargement, the edge closest to the eaves of the original roof shall be not less than 20 centimetres from the original eaves
Other Works
New side windows at first floor level or above either in the original house or an extension need planning permission unless they are obscure glazed and either non-opening or positioned more than 1.7 metres above floor level in the room
All verandas, balconies and raised platforms (greater than 300mm high) need planning permission
Solar panels do not need planning permission provided they do not protrude more than 200mm beyond the existing roof slope.
Detached Buildings in Garden (Garages, Sheds, Greenhouses, etc.)
- Must not result in more than half the original garden area being covered in buildings.
- Must not lie forward of the house itself.
- Must not have more than one storey.
- Height must not exceed 4 metres if roof is dual-pitched, 2.5 metres if building is within 2 metres of the boundary or 3 metres in any other case.
- Eaves must not exceed 2.5 metres.
- Must not lie within curtilage of a listed building.
- Buildings in a conservation area must not lie between the side of the house and the boundary.
Hard Surfaces
New hard surfaces, or the replacement of existing surfaces, to the fronts of houses need planning permission unless:
- The area is 5 square metres or less; or
- Either the hard surface is made of porous materials, or provision is made to direct run-off water from the hard surface to a permeable or porous area or surface within the curtilage.
Any new vehicle access needs planning permission (as well as a road opening permit) if the access is to a classified road or is to serve a development (such as an extension) that itself needs planning permission
Porches
The floor area must not exceed 3 square metres (external measurement), the height must not exceed 3 metres and the porch must lie at least 2 metres away from the highway.
Walls, Fences, Gates and Ralings
The height must not exceed 1 metre adjacent to a highway or 2 metres elsewhere, and highway visibility must not be obstructed.
Satellite Dishes
No more than two dishes are allowed. They must not exceed 100 centimetres in length, or 60 centimetres if installed on a chimney, and they must not exceed the height of the chimney or roof.
Contact us
Regeneration and Performance
Planning and Building Control
Civic Centre
Darwall Street
Walsall
WS1 1DG
Email planningservices@walsall.gov.uk
Telephone (01922) 652452
Textphone 0845 111 2910
Translation Line (01922) 652426
Fax (01922) 623234
Visit us
At the First Stop Shop www.walsall.gov.uk/first_stop_shop.htm
Office opening times
- Monday: 8.45am – 5.15pm
- Tuesday: 8.45am – 5.15pm
- Wednesday: 9.30am – 5.15am
- Thursday: 8.45am – 5.15pm
- Friday: 8.45am - 4.45pm
Christmas and New Year 2008 opening times
- Tuesday 23 December:- 8.45am – 5.15pm
- Wednesday 24 December: closed
- Thursday 25 December: closed
- Friday 26 December: closed
- Monday 29 December: 8.45am – 5.15pm
- Tuesday 30 December: 8.45am – 5.15pm
- Wednesday 31 December: 9.30am – 4pm
- Thursday 1 January: closed
- Friday 2 January: 8.45am – 4.45pm
Complaints/compliments
Please view our complaints and compliments webpage where you can complete an online contact form or alternatively you can print and complete our comments, compliments and complaints form.
- View our complaints/compliments webpage