Do You Need Planning Permission for a Conservatory?

From additional living space to increased property value, conservatories offer a wide range of benefits to any home. It’s hard to see any downsides to building a conservatory on your property, but some homeowners may be put off by the thought of the paperwork involved.

But is planning permission actually needed for a conservatory? The team here at Nu-Look Conservatory Roof Solutions is here to answer your questions with this comprehensive guide.

What is planning permission?

In simple terms, planning permission is the official approval required from your local planning authority before you can embark on any new construction venture. Whether you want to build an entirely new structure, extend your existing property or change the use of your building, it’s important to ensure that your project complies with all regulations. If you go ahead and make changes to your property without getting the necessary planning permissions, you might be asked to revert all work and could even face legal consequences if you refuse.

When is planning permission not necessary?

Planning permission is not necessary if the planned work falls under permitted development rights. This allows homeowners to make certain modifications to their property without the need to go through the formal planning process, including extensions and conversions — subject to certain regulations of course.

However, certain buildings will require planning permission, regardless of the work that’s been planned. If you live in what’s known as a ‘designated area’ — such as a conservation area, national park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) — your property will be subject to extra restrictions to avoid disturbing the surrounding environment. Furthermore, if your property is a listed building then you’ll need to follow different rules designed to protect the historical integrity of the building.

How big can a conservatory be without planning permission? 

UK regulations state that:

• All rear conservatories can be up to four metres in height without requiring planning permission; however, if it is within two metres of a boundary fence, it must be less than three metres tall. 
• Rear conservatories can extend out to eight metres on a detached house and six metres on a semi-detached house. However, if the extension goes beyond four metres then the local planning authority must be informed via the neighbourhood consultation scheme.
• Any conservatory built on a side wall must be less than 50% wider than the original house. 

Do you need planning permission to put a solid roof on a conservatory?

No, you don’t need planning permission to put a solid roof on a conservatory. However, this wasn’t always the case; before 2010, UK building regulations required a conservatory roof to be at least 75% translucent for the project to go ahead without permission, which is why polycarbonate roofing was the standard for many years. However, with a typical U-value of 1.6 W/m²K, it’s clear that this is not the most energy-efficient or durable choice.

The change to regulations in 2010 has given homeowners the freedom to explore alternative roofing options. There has since been a sharp increase in solid conservatory roof replacements, and it’s little wonder! 

Solid conservatory roofs offer a multitude of benefits to any home, including:

• A comfortable conservatory temperature all year round
• Improved insulation
• Lower energy bills due to enhanced energy efficiency
• A lower U-value of just 0.15 W/m²K when you choose a trusted expert like Nu-Look for your solid conservatory roof replacement
• Increased property value
• Minimal maintenance
• Additional soundproofing

Whether you’re planning a new conservatory or looking to renovate your existing one, the team at Nu-Look Conservatory Roof Solutions can help. Throughout our years in operation, we’ve completed over 4,000 flawless installations and can handle all the logistics involved, allowing you to kick back and relax. 

We serve homeowners across Northampton and beyond — for more information, simply contact us today or pay a visit to our showroom.