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Do I need planning permission or building control approval to raise the height of an external doorway?
Whether raising the height of an external door requires planning permission depends on the location of the door, location of the property and how drastic the height change will be.
For smaller changes to the side and rear of the property, permitted development rights may apply, meaning no application or planning permission is required.
Where the height change will be substantial and have a significant impact on the building’s appearance, planning permission is likely to be required. Especially in cases where the door to be heightened is on the principal elevation of the property.
Principle elevation - The most visible or prominent side of a structure, typically facing a street or public area. While often considered the 'front' of the building, it may not always contain the main entrance.
In designated areas such as conservation areas, or on listed buildings you may require additional approvals such as listed building consent.
If you believe permitted development rights apply to a small change, you can apply for a lawful development certificate to ensure this is the case.
Building regulations
Building regulations approval will likely be required where the change impacts the structure of a building, this primarily occurs when an opening is widened. When altering walls you may want to consult a structural engineer.
Common Questions
If your proposal for planning permission or building regulations approval is solely for extensions or alterations to a disabled person’s house to improve access, safety or comfort then you are exempt from paying a planning or building control fee. Additionally, if you are providing means of access for disabled persons to public buildings you are exempt from any fee.
Note that for building regulations approval, you will only be exempt when applying to a local authority building control body.
A roof window (or skylight) is fitted flush within the slope of a roof, while a dormer projects outward, creating additional headroom and floor space.
Both can be installed under permitted development but must meet specific size and position limits to qualify.
Also consider building regulations for a new dormer, find out more on Planning Portal
Most garden ponds will fall under permitted development rights, meaning an application for planning permission is not required. In planning terms a pond will be classed as an outbuilding, to read the full rules around installing an outbuilding, visit our common projects section.
For ponds which are particularly deep or large, you may need to apply for planning permission. If you are unsure, you should contact your local planning authority for advice.
In a listed building you will require listed building consent for any major changes.
When installing a pond, you should take into account other regulatory considerations such as environmental permits or any protected species which may be impacted. Further thought will have to be placed when creating ponds near riverways or in areas of flood risk.
Balconies, verandas and raised platforms will often require planning permission as they do not fall under permitted development rights.
An exception to this is Juliet balconies which do not have any external access or platform, allowing them to be classed as permitted development.
A raised platform of under 0.3 metres is also allowed without planning permission, this may be an area with slightly raised decking.
When applying for planning permission for a balcony it is important to consider your neighbours privacy and garden. The features and location of the property may have a significant impact. If the building is listed or in a conservation area, then this may have a bearing on any decisions.
A bin store is classed as an outbuilding, these fall under permitted development rules meaning they are allowed as long as they adhere to a set list of rules. However, one of these rules is that outbuildings cannot be placed in front of the principal elevation*. As such, you will be required to apply for planning permission to build a bin store or any permanent structure in your front garden.
Read more about the rules for outbuildings.
Principal elevation - The most visible or prominent side of a structure, typically facing a street or public area. While often considered the 'front' of the building, it may not always contain the main entrance.
