The short answer is – not necessarily. There are in fact a number of different building works that you can carry out without needing planning permission. You can, in fact, build quite a lot without needing it. Mainly projects fall under “permitted development rights”.
What are Permitted Development Rights?
This is a general planning permission given by Parliament, which means that you don’t need to apply for planning permission.
There are some limits to this, however. For example, if you live in:
Then your permitted development rights are different.
Single Storey Extensions
Surprisingly, you can build a single storey extension without planning permission, as long as you adhere to a set of caveats. Under Permitted Development, you can build a single storey extension as long as:
There are more caveats that you should familiarize yourself with before you go ahead with your project. You can find them on the planning portal website.
These restrictions also apply for conservatories and orangeries.
Two Storey Extensions
Two storey extensions are often more efficient than building a single storey extension, and they can often completely transform the way that you use your home.
You can build a two-storey extension under Permitted Development, but more often than not you will need planning permission.
Planning permission will be required if:
You may also have to consider the party wall act if your extension includes a boundary wall.
Generally, you should get in touch with your local planning authority and discuss your plans before any work begins. A qualified surveyor should also have a good idea of what falls under planning permission.