A beautifully-designed kitchen extension has the potential to transform your home. It offers the chance to try an exciting new style whilst increasing the amount of functional space available. You might wish to create a bright and modern area with ample room to entertain family and friends, for instance. Or perhaps you’d prefer a reconfiguration of your current kitchen, using the extra space to fit new appliances. Whatever your requirements, you’ll need to know your requirements regarding planning permission before work starts. In this post, we’ll outline the most important information to ensure your kitchen extension project can go ahead as planned.
Do I need planning permission for a kitchen extension?
You won’t need planning permission for a kitchen extension as long as it can be classed as a ‘Permitted Development’. To be classified as a ‘Permitted Development’ it has to conform to various conditions, including:
- The planned extension cannot take up more than half of the land around the ‘original house’ – this is a house as it was first built, or as it stood on 1 July 1948.
- The width of a side extension must not be more than half of the width of the original house.
- The height of a side extension must be no more than four metres.
- If the extension is to be within two metres of a boundary, then the maximum eaves height is three metres.
- A rear extension must not extend beyond the rear wall of the original house by eight metres (for a detached house) or six metres (for any other type of property) unless they are on ‘designated land’, in which case the limits are reduced to four and three metres respectively.
- The materials of the extension must be similar in appearance to the existing house.
How long does it take to receive planning permission in London?
If your kitchen extension cannot be classified as a ‘Permitted Development’, you’ll need to apply for planning permission. Although it can vary between projects, it generally takes around 8 weeks for planning permission to be granted from local authorities in and around London.
Kitchen extension building regulations
Building regulations approval is separate from planning permission, and is required regardless of whether your extension is classed as a ‘Permitted Development’. This type of approval can be considered a vote of confidence that your intended extension is structurally viable, complies with fire safety rules, and has adequate sound insulation. Inspections are made before, during, and after construction by a building control service to make sure that every aspect is in line with regulations.
An end-to-end service
If you’re not sure where to start with your extension project, get in touch with Plus Rooms. We offer a complete service, from initial design concepts through to planning and construction. The final result is a stunning home extension that gives you the space you need and allows you greater flexibility to define your style. Take a look at some of our past kitchen extension projects to see the quality of our craftsmanship.
