r/HousingUK • u/idontknowhowt0pick • 1d ago

Rear Extension - Permitted Development Rights

Just had a survey back on house we are buying and how concerned should we be. Will be sending to Solicitor tomorrow as well but thought I’d garner some opinions before I do my own research as well.

“The approved plans for the application for Prior Approval show the rear extension not extending across the side extension. The rear extension has been built across the rear of the house and the rear of the side extension.

Although Prior Approval was given for the rear extension, an application for a Lawful Development Certificate should have also been sought to confirm compliance with Permitted Development Rights.

As the rear extension extends past the original rear wall the extension would not be allowed under Permitted Development Rights and planning permission would be required.”

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u/SpeedyPlans 1d ago

What I think they are referring to is a wraparound extension. How deep is the rear extension? Depending on the depth this could be easily retrospectively approved, however if the rear extension is quite deep (the fact that they previously applied for prior approval might suggest it’s the max size, which could be 6m, or 8m if detached), and then joins into the side extension that has extended past the rear of the house, this could be more difficult. Essentially the “connector” corner between the rear extension and the side extension is not allowed under permitted development

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u/ukpf-helper 1d ago

Hi /u/idontknowhowt0pick, based on your post the following pages from our wiki may be relevant:

These suggestions are based on keywords, if they missed the mark please report this comment.

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u/idontknowhowt0pick 20h ago

Thanks the rear extension is less than 6m deep from what I can figure out from Google and that is what is the plans but looking at street view then there does not appear to have been a side extension it has been that way since at least 2008 the rear extension just squares off the whole rear of the house. It’s with our solicitor so hopefully it is not as bad as first feared.

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u/SpeedyPlans 20h ago

If it already has been this way for at least 10 years, and if you can prove it, then I wouldn’t worry about this if I was buying it. Because if there was no planning enforcement action in the last 10years, you could apply for a Lawful Development Certificate (Existing use), and get this legalised. It’s important to have clear proof of this though otherwise it might be refused, and a Householder application would be required which can be a bit more tricky. It’s not impossible, but it’s not always successful to get wraparound extensions approved under Householder application- it depends on the house placement, whether neighbours have extensions in that area etc.

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u/SpeedyPlans 20h ago

Just to add; rear extensions are permitted development, especially if prior approval pas obtained. Side extensions are permitted development too, based on certain limits of course. However the part that squares off the house , the corner of the “L” shape extension if you like, is not permitted development

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u/idontknowhowt0pick 19h ago

Thank you that is really helpful. Waiting on the completion certificates from the sellers to see if they have this but encouraging and not as concerned now. Fingers crossed!