10 Jan Can I build an extension on the front of my house?
What do you need to do next?
We work on a wide range of house extensions, but still find that we are asked the same questions by our customers – one of the most common being ‘can I build an extension on the front of my house?’. There’s no straightforward yes or no answer to this, as it depends on where your property is located and the scale of the proposed extension. Here’s everything that you need to know:
Can you extend within permitted development rights?
If the front of your property does not face a road, then you may be able to extend it within permitted development rights. These allow you to make changes to your home without having to obtain planning permission. However, if the front of your house does face the road, you will not be able to build anything larger than a front porch without exceeding those permitted development rights. If you aren’t sure at any stage, please do reach out to your local authority for additional clarification.
What else can go in my favour?
Before you do apply for planning permission, there are some rules that may work in your favour. If the angle between the elevation of your property and the road is more than 45 degrees, it will not normally be classed as facing the road. This is known as the 45-degree rule. You may also not need planning permission if there is a substantial amount if distance between the front of your home and the road, or if there is land owned by someone else between the boundary of your property and the road. Again, we do recommend seeking additional clarification on this.
What if planning permission is needed?
So, what if I do need to seek planning permission? Can I build an extension on the front of my house? There’s no need to give up hope altogether, as a large number of plans are signed off after they are submitted for approval. The key is to provide as much information as possible when you do submit those plans. You can normally expect to hear back within 8 weeks – although if your build is set to be particularly complex you can expect your wait to be somewhere around the 13-week mark.
If you aren’t granted permission you can appeal, but as this can be a long process, we recommend tweaking your plans so that they are in line with what your local planning authority deem acceptable.
Why choose Add a Room?
We have years of experience working on a multitude of house extension locations, including front-facing extensions. We will work with you to come up with a plan that suits your needs and the existing style of your property and will provide support and advice if those plans then need to be submitted for approval. If you do need to change your plans in any way, we will be able to work quickly to make those adjustments, so that work doesn’t need to be delayed for any longer than it needs to be.
Contact us today
If you want to find out more about extending the front of your property, please reach out to a member of our team today. They will be only too happy to answer your questions and then arrange a visit to your home at a time that suits you.