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  5. Roof - Planning Permission

Roof

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  1. Roof - Planning Permission
  2. Protected Species
  3. Building Regulations: Work to an existing roof
  4. Building regulations: Re-roofing
  5. Building regulations: Rooflights
  6. Building Regulations: Insulation and thermal elements
  7. Building regulations: Conversion projects
  8. Building Regulations: New Roofs
  9. Building regulations: New Roofs - Weight (Loading)
  10. Building Regulations: New Roofs - Thermal resistance (Insulation)
  11. Getting your job done safely
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Roof - Planning Permission

Alterations to the roof of a house (e.g. to re-roof or insert skylights) is considered to be permitted development (not requiring planning permission) subject to the following limits and conditions.

These are specific to "any other alteration to the roof of a dwellinghouse" as detailed in Schedule 2, Part 1, Class C of the The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 20151 (as amended).

There are different rules for:

  • "the enlargement of a dwellinghouse consisting of an addition or alteration to its roof" (Schedule 2, Part 1, Class B) which are detailed in our 'Loft conversion' section.
  • “enlargement of a dwellinghouse by construction of additional storeys” (Schedule 2, Part 1 Class AA) which are detailed in our ‘Additional Storeys/Extending Upwards’ section.
  • “installation or alteration etc of solar equipment on domestic premises” (Schedule 2, Part 14, Class A) which are detailed in our ‘Solar panels’ section.

If these limits and conditions are not met, or Permitted Development rights have been removed in the area, then an application for Householder/Full Planning Permission will be required.

The current house:

  • Is not a building containing one or more flats, or a flat contained within such a building
  • Was not changed to be used as a house (from a previous non-residential use) under permitted development rights.
  • Was not built as a ‘New Dwellinghouse’ under permitted development rights.

Limitations on the proposed development:

  • Must not project more than 150 millimetres from the plane of the existing roof slope.
  • Must not exceed the height of the existing roof.
  • Side-facing windows must be obscure-glazed; and, if opening, to be 1.7 metres above the floor of the room in which they are installed.

Permitted Development for householders – Technical Guidance

You are strongly advised to read the technical guidance produced by the Government to help understand how permitted development rules might apply to your circumstances.

View 'Permitted development for householders – Technical guidance' on Gov.uk2

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    1. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/596/schedule/2/part/1/crossheading/class-c-other-alterations-to-the-roof-of-a-dwellinghouse
    2. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/permitted-development-rights-for-householders-technical-guidance

    Disclaimer

    This is an introductory guide and is not a definitive source of legal information. Guidance is based on national rules, but additional local rules may also affect what permissions are needed. You should check if this is the case before applying or starting work.
    Guidance here relates to the planning regime for England, the policy in Wales may differ. If in doubt contact your local planning authority. Please note, local authorities may charge a fee for pre-application advice.
    Read our full disclaimer.

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