From the District Council website:
From the 30 May 2013 new legislation comes into force allowing larger single storey rear extensions to be built under permitted development.
For a period of three years, between 30 May 2013 and 30 May 2016, householders will be able to build larger single-storey rear extensions under permitted development.The size limits will double from 4 metres to 8 metres for detached houses, and from 3 metres to 6 metres for semi-detached and terraced houses.
The new size limits will be subject to a new Prior Approval submission to the Council requiring a neighbour consultation…
So these extensions don’t need planning permission for now, but your adjoining neighbours still need to be consulted:
If any adjoining neighbour raises an objection within the 21 day period the local authority will take this into account and make a decision about whether the impact on the amenity of all adjoining properties is acceptable. No other issues will be considered.
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The development can go ahead if the local authority notifies the developer
in writing either:
a. that as no objections were received from adjoining neighbours it has not been necessary to consider the impact on amenity, or
b. that following consideration, it has decided that the effect on the amenity of adjoining properties is acceptable.
So even if you are proposing a really intrusive and ugly 8 metre single-storey extension , if your neighbours are away on 3 weeks holiday and don’t object, or are too nervous to object , the council can’t stop it…
I fear neighbourhood wars and long lasting resentment from ugly and inappropriate extensions all because of a bit of government spin trying to make us think that this is a noble initiative to kicks tart the building trade. Its not the planning laws that are at fault it’s the economy and the lack of money that people have to spend on their homes in the first place.