Do you need planning permission for a conservatory?

Not many people realise that if you ever want to sell your house and don't have the correct planning permission and regulations approval, the sale can fall through.

At Everest, we have an expert team who keep up to date with all planning permisison and building regulations, so that you don't make any costly mistakes.

This guide has been updated to include the new Building Regulations Part O and Part F 2022.

Do you need planning permission for a conservatory? (Updated for 2023)

In planning permission terms, conservatories fall under the same rules as single-storey extensions, but for building regulations, there's a difference.

Permitted development rights allow you to complete common home building projects without having to apply for planning permission.

You DON'T need planning permission for a conservatory IF you meet the conditions and limits of permitted development outlined below.

Conservatory

A conservatory and an extension fall under the same rules and are considered permitted developments and DON'T need planning permission (subject to limits). Building regulation approval is required on any work.

You DO need planning permission for a conservatory if:

• More than 50% of the land around the 'original house' is to be covered (this includes any other buildings)
• The extension is forward of the front or side of the 'original house' that faces onto a road

You MAY need permission if you live in a designated area or fall under an Article 4 Direction. If you have a listed building, you do require a Listed Building Consent.

Planning Permission rules and Building Regulations outlined here apply to detached and semi-detached houses only, in England. There may be differences in Wales and Scotland.

Conservatories need planning permission if:

1. They are higher than the highest point of the roof
2. The eaves and ridge height are higher than the existing house (single-storey and two-storey)
3. The eaves height is more than 3 metres, if within 2 metres of the boundary

Conservatories built to the side need planning if:

1. They are more than single-storey or over 4 metres
2. They are wider than half the width of the 'original house'

Conservatories built to the rear need planning if:

1. They extend beyond the rear of the 'original house by over 6 metres (semi) or 8 metres (detached house)*
2. They are more than 4 metres in height

*The government has now made permanent these size increases as from May 2019.

The increased size limits are subject to the neighbour consultation scheme and you have to inform your local planning office.

How big can you build a conservatory without planning permission?

The possible size of your conservatory depends on the size of the property that you're extending. To build without the need for planning permission, a conservatory can't be any bigger than 50% of the area around the original house  (including sheds and outbuildings).

How far you can build outwards from the back and side of the house is also restricted if you want to avoid planning permission:

• A conservatory can extend backward from the rear wall of the 'original house' by up to eight metres for a detached house and six metres for semi-detached houses. But, if the structure is more than four metres the neighbour consultation scheme applies and the local planning authority must be informed.
• A rear conservatory can't be higher than four metres, but if it's within two metres of the boundary, it must be three metres or less in height.
• A conservatory built to the side cannot be wider than 50% of the size of the original house.

Separate to planning permission, building regulations will apply to a conservatory that is more than 30 square metres of floor area.

How close can you build a conservatory to a boundary?

Technically, as long as the conservatory is less than three metres high, it can go to the edge of the boundary at the side and the back – considering it doesn't cover more than 50% of the area around the house. (Extensions of more than one storey must not be within seven metres of the boundary at the back of the house. Not really applicable to a conservatory, but worth knowing.)

What you must be aware of if you're excavating or building near a boundary is the Party Wall Act 1996 and this is in addition to planning and building regulations. If your conservatory is built up to a boundary and a wall or foundations sit on or near a boundary then you have a duty to notify your neighbour in advance and seek approval.

Do I need planning permission to change my conservatory roof?

To change a conservatory roof from glass to tile would change the nature of the structure from a conservatory to a single-storey extension. If the extension meets all the requirements for permitted development, it DOESN'T need planning permission. But, as the structure is no longer deemed under the exemption of a 'conservatory' it DOES need to meet relevant building regulations.

Do I need planning permission for bi-fold doors?

You DON'T need planning permission if you're simply replacing bi-fold doors or sliding doors in the same sized opening. Read more here.

Do I need planning permission for a conservatory with a radiator?

A conservatory DOESN'T need planning permission for a standalone radiator, but it DOES need building regulations if the heating system is connected to the rest of the house.

To ensure that your conservatory is classed as a conservatory and doesn't need building regulations, it must have a heating system independent to the house. This is defined by having separate heating controls in the conservatory, for example, a standalone electric radiator.

Do you need planning permission for a conservatory in Scotland?

In Scotland, you DON'T need planning permission for a conservatory if it falls within permitted development. This guide refers to planning rules for England only, so we recommend checking the permitted development rules for Scotland here.

In Scotland, a building warrant is a similar approval process to building regulations in England and Wales.

The rules for an exemption to a Scottish building warrant for a conservatory are as follows:

• Smaller than eight metres squared
• Located at the rear of the property
• At the side of a property, not facing a road
• No less than one metre away from any boundary
• Does not contain a chimney or flue, or any bathroom plumbing (i.e. no showers or toilets)

If you're thinking about building a conservatory in Scotland, we recommend you read the latest handbook for building regulations here. Or, you can speak to our planning experts and we can help you plan and navigate any building warranties for your conservatory.

More information

• Read a more detailed explanation on the technicalities of permitted development rights for householders here.
• Read more information about building regulations here.
• The information provided above is taken from government guidelines at from the Planning Portal and Gov.uk and is a guide only and is not a source of legal information.

Information is correct at time of publication: Updated January 2023.

Planning rules are subject to change. Always seek approval from your local planning authority before starting any building work.

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