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If you are planning a single-storey rear extension, after the 30th May 2013, the following changes will apply to you. This change does not affect side extensions, which should continue to apply the existing permitted development requirements.
If you have a detached, family home and want to build a single-storey, rear extension of between 4 metres and 8 metres deep from the original rear wall of your house, you can apply to the Council's Planning Team to find out if Prior Approval is needed before you can build your extension. In this case, the Prior Approval process replaces the need for Planning Permission.
If you have a semi-detached or terraced family house and want to build a single-storey rear extension which is between 3 metres and 6 metres deep from the original rear wall of your house, you can apply to the Council's Planning Team to find out if Prior Approval is needed before you can build your extension.
In general, planning permission will be needed for your single-storey rear extension if:
Planning permission would still be needed for single-storey rear extensions to dwellings in Conservation Areas, where they are deeper than 4 metres from the original rear wall, in the case of a detached house, and greater than 3 metres from the original rear wall in any other case. The criteria listed above under "When is Planning Permission Needed?" also apply in the case of Conservation Areas.
In some Conservation Areas there are further restrictions on what alterations can be carried out to houses, so it is always advisable to check with one of the Council's Duty Planning Officers first.
Rather than submitting a full planning application from the outset, you can ask the Council whether prior approval is required for the rear extension/ addition you would like to build. Excluding the dimensions relating to depth, all other criteria listed under 'when is planning permission needed?' will need to be met.
The key factor in deciding if Prior Approval is needed, is whether any owners or occupiers adjoining your property object to your proposal. If no one objects then the Council's prior approval will not be required. If any objections are received then the Council is required to assess the impact upon the amenity of all adjoining properties. The Council will then inform you whether prior approval has been granted or refused.
You cannot start work on the extension until the Council advises you that either prior approval is not required or that prior approval has been granted.
You will need to provide us with the following information:
To make sure you submit everything you need, the Planning Portal has provided a printable simple form 
which covers all the above points, together with guidance notes to assist with its completion. Alternatively, you can submit your application online by visiting the Planning Portal applications section . Please also see the additional guidance on submitting your notification written by the Council .
The plans do not need to be drawn by an architect but they should be clearly drawn and, if not to scale, then all the dimensions marked on them.
We will write to all adjoining properties and give them a chance to write into us with any concerns. If any letters raising objections are received from your neighbours, then Prior Approval is needed.
The Council will decide if the extension would have an unacceptable impact on your neighbour's amenity through, for example, loss of light, over-shadowing, loss of outlook, whether the extension would appear over-bearing or, make neighbouring properties and gardens feel enclosed and loss of privacy. If the Council decide that the extension would not be harmful, then they will send you a notice which grants Prior Approval.
The Council will confirm this by sending you a notice.
The Council will send you a notice letting you know the outcome within 42 days of them receiving the required information.
You can appeal the decision. Details of how to do this will be on the notice that the Council sends you.
The extension will need to be finished before the 30th May 2016 and you will need to write to the Planning department to confirm when you have finished your extension.
You will also need to check to see if you need Building Regulations approval for the extension before you start. Details of how to do this can be found on the Building Control website .
If you have a semi-detached or terraced property, and want to build a single-storey rear extension of no more than 3 metres deep from the original rear wall of the house, then you do not need to go through the Prior Approval process. The criteria outlined above, under "When do I need Planning Permission?" will still apply to you.
If you have a detached property, and want to build a single-storey rear extension of no more than 4 metres from the original rear wall of the house, then you do not need to go through the Prior Approval process. The criteria outlined above, under "When do I need Planning Permission?" will still apply to you.
Please see the new legislation which outlines these changes.
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