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How can I find out if my land is in a green belt?
The green belt is a specially designated area of countryside protected from most forms of development. It is protected to help stop urban sprawl, preserve the character of existing settlements and encourage development within existing built-up areas.
The government are working on improving access to public land records, allowing you to check certain restrictions on land. You can view their progress here and see whether your land is greenbelt (note: this tool is currently under development).
You should contact your local planning authority to find out if your land is in a green belt area, and any policies or restrictions that may apply as a result.
Common Questions
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.
If you want formal confirmation that the existing use of a building is lawful for planning purposes, or that your proposed development does not require planning permission, you can apply for a Lawful Development Certificate(LDC). An LDC can be useful in situations where you need assurance that a particular use, operation, or development is lawful under planning legislation.
Read more about Lawful Development Certificates.
Applications for a Lawful Development Certificate can be submitted online to your local council using Planning Portal. You must include enough detail and evidence to support your case; if the information is insufficient, your application may be refused.
A ‘P certificate’ may refer to confirmation that electrical installations within a building are compliant with Approved Document P of the building regulations.
An electrician who is Part P certified is able to self-certify domestic work they complete, meaning you do not have to submit a building notice. To ensure your electrician is Part P certified, use a registered competent person.
If you plan to put up a small, detached building like a garden shed, garden room, garden office, annexe or summerhouse (all classed as outbuildings), building regulations generally won’t apply if the building has a floor area under 15 square metres and does not include any sleeping accommodation.
For buildings with a floor area between 15 and 30 square metres, building regulations approval is usually not needed - as long as the building does not include sleeping accommodation and either:
- it is at least one metre away from any boundary, or
- it is built mainly from non-combustible materials.
Read more about the building regulations that apply to outbuildings.
Don't forget to check the permitted development rights for outbuildings.
Permitted development rights allow certain types of work to be carried out without the need to apply for planning permission. It typically covers things like small extensions, loft conversions and outbuildings, provided they meet specific size and location limits. These rights can vary or be removed in areas like conservation zones and by Article 4’s, so it’s best to check before proceeding.
Read about permitted development and Article 4 directions on Planning Portal
