Planning permission for a conservatory may not be needed in many circumstances. If you meet certain conditions, you will not need to apply for planning permission like you would for many other types of extension.

In this article, we’ll cover the various situations in which planning permission may be required for your new conservatory, as well as the “four-year rule” that may come into effect for older conservatories.

When do you need planning permission for a conservatory?

You may not need planning permission for your conservatory. In many cases, terraced and semi-detached homeowners can make additions of up to 6m in height without planning permission; detached homeowners can now add large structures up to 8m without planning permission.

However, you should have a thorough read of the additional stipulations below before you go ahead with any work. There are quite a few rules that determine whether or not you need planning permission to have your conservatory built. Make sure that the conservatory you are planning meets all of the requirements. Planning permission is required for your conservatory if:

  • The conservatory would cover more than half the garden.
  • The highest point would exceed four metres (or three metres if within two metres of a boundary).
  • The highest point would be higher than the eaves of your property’s roof.
  • The side extensions would extend beyond half the width of the house.
  • More than half the area of land around the original house would be covered by additions or other buildings.
  • The conservatory would extend beyond the rear wall of the original house by more than 8m if a detached house or 6m if an attached house.
  • The extension is further forward than the principal elevation or side elevation which fronts a highway.
  • The highest point of the eaves and ridge is above the highest part of the original house or the house as it currently exists.
  • The conservatory is to be built at the side of the building and either exceeds more than 4m in height or is more than half the width of the original house.
  • The extension is higher than one storey and has a roof pitch that does not match the existing house.
  • There are any verandas, balconies, or raised platforms.

Planning permission will also be required if the conservatory is more than one storey and is to be built on a National Park, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, conservation area, or World Heritage Site. Conservatories with exterior cladding or side extensions also require permission if built in these areas.

For the latest guidance from UK planning authorities, visit the Planning Portal’s conservatory page.

How close can you build a conservatory to a boundary?

With the written permission of your neighbour, you can build a conservatory as close to the boundary as you would like. However, the affected neighbour must be contacted in writing at least two months before you plan to put the conservatory up. If your proposed conservatory would come within two metres of the boundary, its maximum height is restricted to three metres.

You may also wish to consider building a transparent conservatory away from the boundary for privacy reasons.

What is the four-year rule in planning permission?

The four-year rule enables homeowners to apply for a Certificate of Lawfulness that renders a previously unauthorised extension legal provided that it has been there for at least four years. This is an option if you have built a conservatory that should have had planning permission but didn’t realise that this was necessary at the time.

To qualify, you’ll need to provide evidence that the extension has been in place for at least four years. Evidence could include dated photographs showing the house before the work was completed and council tax bills (although other forms of evidence may be required).

Other conservatory building regulations

Alongside the conservatory planning permission considerations we’ve mentioned, there are a number of other building regulations associated with conservatories to keep them safe and free from stricter regulations that apply to other extensions and buildings.

Our conservatory building regulation FAQ covers these rules in more depth, including the percentage of glass required, foundations, external doors and conservatory heating. If you contact KLG Rutland to discuss your conservatory, we will also be able to help you with any practical questions you may have.

Do You Need Planning Permission For An Orangery?

Building an orangery is a rewarding investment of time and money. Not only will an orangery provide a home with extra living space, it will also add value to the property if done correctly. The most common question people ask is whether building an orangery requires planning permission. The answer to this question depends on several factors, including the size of the build and its positioning. We have outlined the key considerations that affect planning permission requirements below.

When do you need planning permission for an orangery?

In most cases, you do not need planning permission for an orangery. This is because orangeries fall under ‘permitted development rights’, a government scheme that entitles homeowners to extend their homes without planning permission as long as they meet the following criteria:

  • The orangery is single-storey and no taller than 4 metres.
  • The orangery does not extend further than 4 metres from the existing property if it is detached, and no further than 3 metres if it is semi-detached or a terrace house.
  • The orangery is not on the front of the house or on a sidewall that faces a road
  • Materials used in the orangery are similar to those used in the main house
  • The top point of the orangery does not extend higher than the house’s roof eaves
  • The orangery does not take up more than 50% of the land around the property
  • The orangery does not include any balconies or elevated platforms.

Typically homes that fall under the category of ‘flats’, ‘listed buildings’, ‘maisonettes’ and ‘homes built in conservation areas’ are not granted ‘permitted development rights’ and must seek planning permission.

Does an orangery need building regulations?

Orangeries often do need building regulations because, similarly to extensions, they often have an open-plan design and are connected directly from the main property. Building regulation is different to planning permission; the former ensures that building standards are maintained, while the latter oversees the visual impact of the build and its impact on the town, city or countryside. 
Conservatories typically do not need building regulation because they are traditionally built as a separate structure to the main house, with an external wall and closed door separating the two structures. The line between conservatories and orangeries has become very blurred in recent years, however, and it is common for orangeries to be exempt from building regulation based on having similar build specifications to conservatories.

How do you find out if your orangery needs planning permission?

To confirm whether your orangery needs planning permission, you must contact your local planning authority (LPA). Your LPA will then inform you if your orangery falls under ‘permitted development rights’.

How do you apply for planning permission?

If your orangery needs planning permission, you must apply for permission through your LPA. You will need to submit the following at the minimum:

  • A location plan – a document that shows the proposed site area and the area around it.
  • A site plan (also known as a block plan) – a document that presents the proposed build in detail. 

There are various other requirements to meet, as well as differences at a local level. Contact your LPA to find out the specific guidelines you must meet.

What happens if you start building an orangery without planning permission?

You should always check with your building contractors to see if your orangery meets the requirements for ‘permitted development rights’. If you do not check before building and it turns out that you needed planning permission, you will have committed a planning breach and must submit a retrospective application to your LPA. If accepted, no further action will need to be taken by either party. If rejected, the local planning authority will serve you with an enforcement notice resulting in a fine and the dismantling of the structure, both of which can be costly.

How do you apply for building regulation for your orangery?

To apply for building regulation, you can either apply through your council or through a private approved inspector. Depending on the application that you submit, you can expect a decision within 5 weeks. KLG Rutland has years of experience in submitting building regulation applications and can ensure that the process progresses smoothly for all involved. If you are interested in building an orangery, get in touch today.