Rear extensions

Part of: Planning advice for common projects

Smaller extensions

If you do not live in a conservation area or a listed building, you may be able to construct a single-storey rear extension without planning permission. This can only be to a depth of:

  • 3m to 6m for a semi-detached or terraced house
  • 4m to 8m for a detached house

Even if you do not need planning permission, you still need to let us know about your extension. You need to complete the notification of a proposed larger home extension form .

Larger extensions

If your proposed extension is bigger, we will consider it if:

  • it is subordinate – this means it is smaller in height, width and depth than the original building
  • it avoids blocking sunlight to neighbouring properties
  • windows of the extension avoid looking into habitable rooms of neighbouring properties
  • it avoids reducing gardens to an unreasonably small size
  • it avoids impacting trees on the property or adjacent properties

Planning permission might not be granted if your extension is generally not in line with this advice.