Plans to cut planning red-tape for loft conversions
The Government has announced plans to enable families to extend their homes without the need to apply for planning permission.
New planning regulations are being laid before Parliament which will allow people to carry out loft conversions and extensions without having to obtain permission from their local council.
The Government said the move would mean that from October the majority of homeowners would no longer need to get planning permission to extend their homes, leading to around 80,000, or one quarter, of all planning applications being removed from the system.
It hopes the change will make it easier for families, who are unable to move because of the credit crunch, to create more space in their existing homes. It said more than 11% of people move home each year, with half of people changing properties within five years, often because they need somewhere bigger.
But many people are unable to obtain the mortgage finance they need to trade up the ladder due to the credit crunch, while others are either reluctant or unable to sell their home in the current market downturn.
Housing and Planning Minister Caroline Flint said: “Today I am scrapping the red tape so it is much easier to convert the loft into that extra bedroom and build on an extension. The new rules will cut out planning permission for about 80,000 households a year and crucially saving as much as £1,000 in some cases.”
But the Government stressed that the new rules would strike a balance between freeing up homeowners to make improvements and limiting the size of an extension so that neighbours are protected.
Large and more intrusive home improvements, such as extensions going back more than three metres from the original property or loft conversions of more than 50 cubic metres, will still require planning permission.
A new interactive guide is being produced to help people understand the planning requirements they face when carrying out home improvements.
The Government added that people undertaking the types of home improvements covered by the new regulations would not be required to pay additional council tax on their homes as a result.
Source: Press Association
Comment
It has to be positive news that the Government is cutting red-tape on planning for loft conversions and small extensions. For those people with growing families that need more space, but can’t necessarily afford to move house – this should be a big help.
Converting a loft is a fairly major project and one that is beyond most DIYers – so the stress, disruption and expense can be considerable. By taking away some of the red-tape hassle of planning applications and the obvious expense entailed, it’s a few less things to worry about.
Nevertheless, if your loft conversion is not considerable and you are not altering the envelope of the building, then you probably won’t need planning permission anyway. By putting in a Fakro or Velux window roof window, you get the light required and the requisite escape point, without having to re-roof the whole house. If you put in a big dorma it would be a different story.
Let’s not forget that this doesn’t mean you won’t need a Building Control Certificate. Any significant work done to your property requiring planning permission is one thing, but the quality of work and materials used will still have to pass muster with Building Control, to ensure it’s legal and above board. You and your contractor will still have to jump through hoops to make sure the fire doors have the right closers on, the joists are thick enough or fire retardent etc etc.
Don’t forget, access to your loft from the first floor also comes under the remit of Building Control. This can be a bit of a grey area on some projects and it can depend on what mood your BCO is in at the time. He does have the authority to be what some would describe as “bloody-minded”, if he wishes. But to be fair, you wouldn’t believe some of the staircases some people try to put in [insert image underneath]. Some staircases are just downright shonky and unsafe. Whereas as other “designer staircases” can look absolutely beautiful, with superb craftsmenship, but they forego any kind of safety requirements. Great if you live on your own and love high end style, but not if you have a family of rug rats running riot around your home.
Whether you are looking for a stylish spiral staircase or one of the larger contemporary looking open stairs, there are plenty on offer, to suit most budgets.
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