Do I need Planning Permission for a conservatory?

Small scale domestic extensions, including conservatories, do not require planning permission if the extension is to the rear of the house and comply with the following:

• The original floor area of the house is not increased by more than 40 square metres. It is important to note that where the house has been extended before, the floor area of the extension you are now proposing and the floor area of any previous extension, including those for which you got planning permission, cannot exceed 40 square metres;
• The Conservatory does not exceed the height of the house;
• The Conservatory does not reduce the area of private open space, reserved for the occupants of the house, to less than 25 square metres.

There is also a rule which states any windows proposed at ground floor level as part of an extension/Conservatory should not be less than 1 metre from the boundary they face. If you are planning a conservatory which will be within 1 Metre of the boundary wall then a solid wall rather than glass should be used in this instanceP

Bungalows have height restrictions for conservatories except of course when adding on to the gable end. There are two simple and very effective solutions; construct a false dormer/gable in the house roof or create a conservatory design which will link to the bungalow using a boxgutter.

Creating a false dormer in the bungalow roof conjures up images of stripping off the house roof, wet rainy days and hosts of structural issues, in fact it is a very simple job which we complete in two days. We do not cut any of the rafters in the house roof, we are simply adding rafters onto the existing roof. We first construct a template from the conservatory roof in the factory and then complete the false gable before the conservatory arrives on site, the conservatory is then just another straightforward installation with the house roof already fully sealed.

The second method involves designing the conservatory so that the eave of the conservatory attaches to the eave of the house using a structural gutter. Depending on the measurments of the house the conservatory will either be joined to the fascia of the house or to the wall under the fascia board.

So is there a “best” method? Not really it is a matter of taste, structural and other limitations. Some conservatories are more suited to one design than others, for example if you aspire to a conservatory measuring say 20ft along the house then it will not be possible to construct a false dormer 20 ft wide. Older houses may also be unsuitable for dormers if for example the existing roof tiles/slates are no longer available or if the existing house roof felt is compromised.

To discuss this issue and any other conservatory design issues contact our office and arrange a free design consultation with one of our consultants. We have built thousands of conservatories and have the experience to deliver the right design on budget on time for your home.