What are permitted development rights?

Not all of the building work you can do on your home needs planning permission. Some of it falls under "permitted development" rules which means that no planning permission is required.

Types of work which can be carried out under permitted development (with very strict criteria) include:

• The enlargement of or extension to your house
  
  
• Additions or alterations to your roof
  
  
• The erection of a porch
  
  
• The erection of outbuildings
  
  
• Laying down driveways on your land
  
  
• Installation, alteration or replacement of a chimney
  
  
• Installation, alteration or replacement of a satellite dish
  
  
• Addition of up to two storeys on:
  • various terraced and detached buildings
  • new dwellinghouses immediately above the existing topmost residential storey on a building which is a purpose-built, detached block of flats  

Some local authorities are allowed to remove permitted development rights under what's called an "Article 4 Direction" or may have removed them from your property. Check with your local authority as part of your pre-project planning to find out if this is the case. And beware that permitted development rights don't apply to flats and maisonettes.

N.B., whether or not you need planning permission, you may still need building regulations approval!

Further information

You’ll find further information on whether you need planning permission in the information pages relating to the type of project you’re undertaking on this website.

Also read the UK Government's guidance on permitted development.