I want to extend my home. What can I do without needing to get planning permission

A. You can generally extend up to 10% of the volume of a terraced property and 15% of a detached one without having to apply for planning permission. Common extensions, particularly in terraced houses, such as loft extensions and building an extra upstairs room on top of a ground floor room at back of the house will be required to meet the local authorities building regulations. A reputable builder will know how to meet these requirements and draw up plans for the council.

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Porches and conservatories are exempt from both planning permission and building regulations as long as they are less than three metres square and three metres high and at least two metres away from your property's boundary with your neighbours.

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Q. When do I need permission to extend my house
A. If the extension you plan is bigger than the volumes above. If in doubt, consult with the council first. There is nothing more frustrating or costly than finishing the work only to find you've got to rip it down and start again.

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Also, in a conservation area any changes to the building need to get the approval of the local authority conservation officer and, in some cases, English Heritage.

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A. Self-build is increasingly popular, with people wanting to design a home that meets all their particular needs and aspirations. But it is not as simple as buying a plot of land and building on it. You can't do anything without planning permission, and remember you are unlikely to be granted permission to build on a greenfield site.

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It is best to find a plot that already has planning permission to be developed. Your local authority should have a register of such plots under one acre and there are agents and websites that specialise in searching for them.

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