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  1. Welcome to Planning Portal
  2. Do you need permission?
  3. Home improvement projects

Home improvement projects

Making improvements to your home? 

Read our planning and building guidance about all kinds of home improvement projects, from smaller changes such as replacement windows or decking, to adding a garden office or embarking on a two-storey extension. Our common projects advice and interactive house can help to steer and support your project, from the research and planning application stages, through to completion.

Need planning advice?

Book a call with a planning expert for tailored support on your home or commercial project.

Speak to an expert (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/planning-guidance-service)

Speak to an expert
    Planning icon

    Planning your project

    How to get your project started - use our tools to help create an estimate, calculate your planning consultancy fees, finance your project, find a local tradesperson and make an application for planning permission online. 


    Common projects advice for homeowners (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects)

    Common projects advice for homeowners

    Speak to an expert (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/planning-guidance-service)

    Speak to an expert

    Getting started (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/home-improvement/getting-started)

    Getting started

    Project advice (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/home-improvement/project-advice)

    Project advice

    Make an application (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/applications)

    Make an application

    Planning consultancy calculator (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/home-improvement/planning-consultancy-calculator)

    Planning consultancy calculator


        Tools icon

        Building your project

        Find out about your responsibilities and consider what you need to do before you start the build phase of your project. You can also learn about how a building contract can provide peace of mind and in what situation you may need a lawful development certificate. 


        What do to next (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/what-to-do-next)

        What do to next

        Your responsibilities (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/responsibilities)

        Your responsibilities

        Find a professional (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/planning/planning-applications/find-a-trade-professional)

        Find a professional

        Building contracts (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/financing-your-project/building-contracts)

        Building contracts
            Clipboard confirmed icon

            Completing your project

            Read our guidance about improving the interior and exterior of your home, how building regulations may apply to the changes you make and retrospective consents. 


            Improving your home (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/home-improvement/improving-your-home)

            Improving your home

            Project completion (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/home-improvement/project-completion)

            Project completion

            Success and results (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/home-improvement/success-and-results)

            Success and results

                Interactive house

                Explore our interactive detached and terrace houses, shop or flat to find out information on many common householder projects, including garage and basement conversions, new outbuildings and extensions. 


                Interactive house

                    Visit our Interactive House (https://interactive.planningportal.co.uk/)

                    Visit our Interactive House

                    Mini guides

                    Our mini guides provide visual clarification of the permitted development rules for specific projects.
                    Access the individual mini guides via the bottom menu of the interactive house.

                    Mini guide extension

                        Browse the mini guides (https://interactive.planningportal.co.uk/mini-guide/conservatory/0)

                        Browse the mini guides


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                          The Planning Portal is delivered by PortalPlanQuest Limited which is a joint venture between TerraQuest Solutions Limited and the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG). All content © 2025 Planning Portal.

                          The Planning Portal is delivered by PortalPlanQuest Limited which is a joint venture between TerraQuest Solutions Limited and the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG). All content © 2025 Planning Portal.