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.

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   Andy 
 11 September 2026
 
 
  Great service from start to finish. Guys who done the installation were friendly and tidy work and cared. we went from polycarbonate to solid and I wouldn't look back. I would recommend Nu-Look for a professional service from all the team from David to the girls in the office 5* service
  
 
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   green team 
 28 August 2026
 
 
  A very efficient first rate service. The team stripped off the old polycarbonate roof, custom made a new framework, insulated it and replaced  the roof with 'tiles'. A day or two later a chap plastered the new ceiling. We were so impressed with the whole operation and how streamlined it was, but even more so with the finished room. We have achieved exactly what we wanted and we love it!
  
 
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   Alan Allder 
 26 August 2026
 
 
  From the moment the representative came and quoted me a price and the work involved I was pleasantly surprised at the price and agreed instantly. On the fitting day the two chaps arrived on time and after discussing plans with me they got straight to work. Adam(Lukasz) and Sol(Smart)worked together as a team and the roof appeared before our eyes in hours. Finally the finish they achieved and the care taken was of a high standard. Lastly although I said I would clear up they insisted and left the garden as they found it. Many thanks to all involved
  
 
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   Roger Moss 
 15 July 2026
 
 
  STUNNING TRANSFORMATION. Had a large P shape conservatory with a Poly sheeted panel roof which were coming to the end of their life, for years had been having companies arrive and push for a sale, in early May a new "Checkatrade" leaflet arrived and Nu-Look name took my eye. Salesman Gavyn came with samples to show construction, liked what we heard so went with Nu Look, next step Matt the surveyor approved the build agreeing it could go a head. Week of build weather looked horrendous but it held off, Gareth and Archie arrived and what professionals  they were, turned up on time and made sure all materials were on hand to complete the work. They needed to deconstruct and construct framework  to allow the electrical work by "Dixie" and plastering by Brett and Darren to go a head, watching Gareth cut those angled sections more so for the valley was outstanding, such a craftsman and Archie was kept on his toes. Same with Brett and Darren outstanding plaster work and gave great advice when to paint ceiling due to hot weather, Dixie finished LED lighting. We also went for building control which Nu -Look deal with via Stroma. Must not forget Emily in the office, any issues she was on it. We opted for the £100 deposit on agreement and the Novuna finance route, which we paid off soon after with an additional cost of £29 to do so, great finance company, web site and communications excellent. We had a conservatory and now have a garden room and already in these very hot conditions we feel a difference much more comfortable, so if you are thinking about replacing those poly sheets give NU-Look a call, glad we did. Thankyou all from Roger and Sandra.
  
 
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   Italo Fiorentino 
 13 July 2026
 
 
  What can I say about Nu-Look.. well from start to finish, it was a first class service, the guys turned up on time every day, rain or shine. Overall I am really happy with my new roof. I can now sit in my conservatory and enjoy it. Thank you.
  
 
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   martin bryce 
 9 July 2026
 
 
  I was very impressed with level of professionalism of the 3 fitters.ben and the 2 Andys.  The plasterer clint was also very good..I would happily recommend nulook to anyone needing a replacement conservatory roof..jd
  
 
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   Diane Murphy 
 26 May 2026
 
 
  We recently had a new tiled conservatory roof fitted by Nu-Look and we couldn’t be happier with the result. From start to finish all the staff were friendly and helpful. The salesmen was not pushy, he gave me a honest opinion on what needed doing and didn’t try to oversell. I would highly recommend Nu-Look to anyone that is looking to upgrade there conservatory roof to a tiled one. It’s made such a difference especially that we have been able to use it during this heat wave.
  
 
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   Pete Hornby 
 26 May 2026
 
 
  Nu-look have done a fantastic job of replacing my old poly carbonate roof with a solid roof. I can't recommend them highly enough, from the initial consultation with Gavyn, to the surveyor, and all of the tradesmen involved.
  
 
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   Callum Simson 
 24 May 2026
 
 
  We recently decided to go for a tiled roof on our conservatory, salesman were all brilliant and handled all issues the fitters were even better would recommend to anyone looking to extend there home
  
 
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   Jeremy Morrison 
 11 May 2026
 
 
  Excellent company. This is a great company wth a great product. I wanted to insulate my conservatory roof. I had several companies around to quote for the work. Nu-Look were the only company where the representative took time to listen to what my problem was and discuss a proposed solution. All the others simply tried to press a product on me without listening to the customer. Additionally all the other companies offered their “solution” at ridiculously high prices. If you want a builder who listens to his clients problem and proposes a solution that meets the client’s needs not theirs then use Nu-Look for unparalleled quality and value for money. Following my acceptance of the quote I was visited by a very professional surveyor who was like every other person associated with the company being polite and keen to answer any questions I had. When the tradesmen arrived they were bang on time. They undertook the installation quickly and to a high standard. They were professional and polite throughout. I would recommend Nu-Look without hesitation. Jeremy M - Milton Keynes

Benefits of a Tiled

Conservatory Roof

Energy Efficient

Reduced Heat Loss

Low U-Values of 0.14

Increased Privacy

Reduced Noise

10-year Guarantee

Reduced Sun Glare

Reduced Overheating

Conservatory Roof Replacement

Download Brochure

Benefits of a Tiled

Conservatory Roof

Energy Efficient
Reduced Heat Loss
Low U-Values of 0.14
Increased Privacy
Reduced Noise
10-year Guarantee
Reduced Sun Glare
Reduced Overheating

Conservatory Roof Replacement

Download Brochure

Characterised by clean lines, full square corners and a pitched roof with a central ridge, Edwardian conservatory roofs are a popular choice for those seeking a classic and elegant conservatory.