When you plan to build a conservatory on your property in the UK, you might have questions about the legal requirements of it. One of the most common concerns that people have is whether they need to get permission from their local planning department to build a conservatory.

In most cases, you do not need to get permission to build a conservatory. The UK Government grants permitted development rights to homeowners. These rights basically give homeowners permission to build an extension on their property without needing to get planning permission first.

Of course, there are requirements that a proposed structure must meet to qualify for these rights. Most conservatories will satisfy these requirements, which is why you don’t need to obtain planning permission first. But it is still a good idea to check with your local planning authority to make sure. 

Even though the Government has granted permitted development rights to all homeowners in the UK, the local authorities are still responsible for regulating these rights. That is why you will want to check with them first.

Some of the standard requirements are as follows:

• Your conservatory cannot cover more than 50% of the land surrounding your house.
• The conservatory cannot be placed on any elevation that faces a motorway.
• The conservatory must be positioned at a lower elevation than the highest point on your home’s roof.
• If the conservatory is installed in the rear of an attached house, then it cannot extend past three metres. If it is a detached house, then it cannot extend past four metres.

As long as your conservatory is not a gigantic structure on your property, then that is all you need to worry about. In any case, the architect or builder that develops your conservatory can answer your questions about this.