| New laws in the UK mean there are now more | | | | a terraced house or up to 50 cubic metres in a |
| improvements you are allowed to make to your | | | | detached home. That is around enough for a double |
| house without needing planning permission. This | | | | bedroom and a bathroom. |
| makes it much easier and cheaper to extend your | | | | These changing to planning permission laws not only |
| home and add extra living space. | | | | make improving your home easier - planning |
| In most instances you no longer need to apply for | | | | permission takes an average of 8 weeks to process |
| planning permission for loft conversions, or for | | | | - it is cheaper too. Before, you would have to have |
| extensions to either to the rear or side if they are | | | | paid a fee of up to £170 just to apply for |
| under a certain size. Obvious exceptions are if you | | | | planning permission. The plans needed to support |
| are living in a listed property, where most work will | | | | your case could then cost over £1,000 for a |
| require permission, or if you want to do a loft | | | | large extension. |
| conversion to your upstairs flat. | | | | So if you would like to extend your house in some |
| There are restrictions to what extensions can be built | | | | way but have being putting it off because it seems |
| without first applying for planning permission. Any | | | | like an expensive and drawn out process bear in mind |
| extension to the front of the property will need full | | | | that things have never been easier and things may |
| permission first. Side extensions can not be wider | | | | not be as complicated as you would expect. Building a |
| than half the width of the existing house and must | | | | loft conversion companies will often give you a |
| only be a single story with a height of no greater | | | | detailed quote free of charge, can can advise you if |
| than 4 metres. When it comes to loft conversions, | | | | there are likely to be any restrictions under the latest |
| you can add up to 40 cubic metres of living space to | | | | regulation changes. |