Installing patio doors at the rear of your house is likely to fall under permitted development rights, meaning an application for planning permission is not required, provided certain limits and conditions are met.

The doors should be of similar appearance to those previously used, if they are not then generally planning permission will be required.

If you live in a listed building, you will need listed building consent for any significant works.

If you live in a designated area such as a conservation area or national park, then additional restrictions may be in place.

If you are unsure whether the work falls within permitted development rights you can check with your local planning authority or submit a lawful development certificate to prove the change is lawful and prevent any future enforcement action.

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Planning permission is not required for moving internal walls in a flat.If the building is a listed building, you may require listed building consent.

Removing a load bearing wall will require building control approval as it is altering the structure of the property. You will be required to provide a report from a structural engineer who will provide structural calculations.

Work on internal walls may also affect fire escape routes, ventilation, drainage or electrics. These should be considered during the design process and work should be carried out by a member of the competent person scheme where possible.

Planning permission is not required to remove an internal chimney breast as the change does not impact the exterior of the house. Rules may differ if you are planning on removing the chimney stack, or if you are in a conservation area.

If you live in a listed building, then you will need to apply for listed building consent for any major changes to the building.

Building regulations approval will always apply when removing chimney breasts as they are part of the building’s structure. You should seek advice from a structural engineer who will provide drawings and calculations that can be submitted as part of your application.

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Adding a storey on top of an extension will always require an application for planning permission.

If you want to add a storey on top of your house under permitted development rights, it must be on the principal part of the house.

If you want to add an additional storey on top of your house, it can be permitted development. It is only permitted development if it follows certain rules:

The current house

• Is not a building containing one or more flats, or a flat contained within such a building
• Was constructed between 1 July 1948 and 28 October 2018
• Has not already had additional storeys added to it
• Is not on Article 2(3) land or a site of special scientific interest
• Was not changed to be used as a house (from a previous non-residential use) under permitted development rights.

How many storeys can you add?

• If the house is one storey then one storey can be added
• If the house is two or more storeys then two storeys can be added

Where can the storeys be added?

• The additional storeys must be added to the principal part of the house. The principal part of the house is the main part of the house excluding any front, side or rear extension of a lower height (regardless of these being part of the original house or subsequent additions).
• Engineering operations must only include works within the existing curtilage of the house to strengthen existing walls and foundations

How high can it be?

• The house cannot exceed 18 metres in total height
• Each storey cannot add more than 3.5 metres to the total height
• If the house is not detached the total height cannot be more than 3.5 metres higher than the next highest building that the house is attached to, adjoins, or is in the same row as.
• The additional storeys must have an internal floor-to-ceiling height of no more than 3 metres, and no greater than the internal height of any existing storey within the principal part of the house.

What materials can be used?

The materials used must be of a similar appearance to those used in the construction of the exterior of the current house

Where can windows be placed?

Windows must not be placed in any wall or roof slope forming a side elevation of the house.

Following completion of development:

• The house must remain in use as a domestic residential property
• No visible support structures must remain on or attached to the exterior of the house
• The roof pitch of the principal part of the house must be the same as it was prior to the development.

 If any of the limits set out above are exceeded then an application for planning permission will be required. If you are unsure, you should contact your local planning authority.

Find contact details for your local planning authority.

A carport can fall under permitted development rights provided it meets certain limits and conditions set out in legislation. If you exceed or fail to meet a requirement then you will require planning permission.

If not attached to the house, a car port will be treated as an ‘outbuilding’. A full list of requirements is available on our outbuildings common project.

Read our outbuilding common project.