What permission is required?
If a building is listed or situated in a conservation area listed building consent and planing permission may be required. Houses not listed or located in a conservation area can usually be extended up to a particular volumetric limit without planning permission being required. However if the volume of the conservatory or conservatories being formed, once the volume of any previous extensions is added, is likely to exceed that permitted, planning permission is required.
If the proposed works affect a party wall, the owners or leaseholders of adjoining properties must be informed. The relevant legislation is the Party Wall etc Act 1996. Guidance notes on the Act are available from DCLG Free Literature, PO Box 236, Wetherby, L23 7NB. The Local Authority does not have a role in the implementation of the provisions of the Act.
If the proposed conservatory is to be built over or within 3 metres of a sewer laid before 1st October 1937, Thames Water Utilities should be advised of the proposal as they may have additional requirements.
If the conservatory is to be added to an existing building which is either a work place, a commercial or a public building, a full plans Building Regulations application is required for the works.
However, provided certain criteria are satisfied, the addition of a conservatory to domestic buildings does not require a Building Regulations application.
What criteria must be satisfied to be exempt?
- The conservatory must have a completely transparent or transparent roof. Note: if the roof is changed for a conventional flat or pitched roof, the extension is no longer exempt.
- The walls must be substantially glazed, unless they are a party wall or within 1 metre of a boundary.
- The internal floor area must not exceed 30 square metres.
- The conservatory must be situated at ground floor level only.
- It should not have a permanent heating system unless it has controls separate from those serving the house.
- The glazing must satisfy the requirements of Part N of the Building Regulations (Safety in relation to impact, opening and cleaning of glazing)
- The conservatory must not contain any soil or foul water drainage.
- The conservatory must be permanently separated from the remainder of the house, such as by a doors.
This information was correct at the time of writing (October 2007).
Contact us
Building Control
Environment and Regeneration
Waltham Forest Council
Sycamore House
Forest Road
London E17 4JF
Tel 020 8496 3000
Email building.control@walthamforest.gov.uk
