Larger home extension Prior Approval
The neighbour consultation scheme allows single-storey rear extensions that go beyond standard permitted development limits, without a full planning application. It is a genuinely useful route. It is also one where a single unchecked detail can sink the application.
Standard permitted development lets you build a single-storey rear extension of a limited depth without any application. The larger home extension scheme goes further: it allows roughly double that depth, in exchange for notifying the council and letting your neighbours have their say.
The depth limits
| Property type | Depth beyond the original rear wall |
|---|---|
| Detached house | Between 4m and 8m |
| Semi-detached, terraced and all other houses | Between 3m and 6m |
These are maximums within a range, not an entitlement. They apply only where every other condition is satisfied. That includes height limits, the position of the extension, whether the property sits on designated land, whether permitted development rights have been removed, and what has already been built.
If your property does not meet the conditions, the depth figure is irrelevant. This is why we assess eligibility before anything else.
What "original house" means, and why it matters most
Your allowance is measured from the original rear wall of the original house. Original means as first built, or as it stood on 1 July 1948 for older properties. It does not mean as it was when you bought it.
So if a previous owner added a 3m kitchen extension in 2006, that 3m has already been used. The measurement for your new extension runs from where the wall used to be, not from where it is now. People discover this at the worst possible moment, which is usually after the drawings have been paid for.
Checking the planning history properly at the start is not an optional extra. It is the whole assessment.
Other conditions that commonly apply
- Height. There are limits on the overall height of the extension and on the height of the eaves, particularly where the extension is near a boundary.
- Position. The right applies to rear extensions. Extensions forward of the principal elevation, or to the side in some circumstances, fall outside it.
- Materials. Conditions apply to the appearance of the extension relative to the existing house.
- Designated land. Conservation areas, National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and World Heritage Sites restrict householder rights significantly.
- Article 4 directions and planning conditions. Either can remove permitted development rights from a property entirely. Newer estates are a common example.
- Property type. The right applies to houses. Flats and maisonettes are not covered.
How the neighbour consultation scheme works
- You apply before starting work. The application goes to the local planning authority with drawings showing the existing and proposed development.
- The council notifies adjoining owners and occupiers. There is a minimum 21-day consultation period.
- If no objections are received and the council is satisfied the conditions are met, it can proceed as permitted development.
- If objections are received, the council assesses the impact of the proposal on the amenity of adjoining premises and decides.
- Determination is within 42 days of the application being valid. Beyond that there is a right of appeal for non-determination.
A note on objections. The assessment triggered by an objection is limited to amenity impact on adjoining premises. Objections about matters outside that scope do not carry the same weight they would on a full planning application. How the submission is framed at the outset genuinely affects how this stage goes.
What we do
We check whether the route is available for your specific property, tell you what your real allowance is once previous works are accounted for, prepare the application and the supporting statement, manage the submission, and deal with the council through the determination period.
If the answer is that the route does not work for you, you will hear that from us early, and we will tell you what the realistic alternative looks like.
Fixed fees for this service
Quoted in writing before anything starts. No hourly billing.
Basic
Eligibility assessment and written advice.
- Initial eligibility assessment
- Review of your proposed development
- Written planning advice
- Recommended route and next steps
Standard
The application handled end to end.
- Everything needed for the agreed standard submission
- Application preparation
- Submission management
- Council liaison
- Reasonable clarification responses
Premium
Strategic support for complex cases.
- Strategic planning assessment
- Full case management
- Coordination of more complex evidence and support
- Council liaison
- Post-decision guidance
Council application fees and third-party reports or drawings are separate unless expressly included. Complex schemes are quoted bespoke — we will tell you before you commit if your project falls outside the standard packages.
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to what people actually ask us.
How far can I extend under the larger home extension scheme?
The scheme covers single-storey rear extensions between 4m and 8m for detached houses, and between 3m and 6m for all other houses including semi-detached and terraced properties.
Those upper figures are maximums within a range, not an automatic entitlement. They apply only where every other condition is met, including height limits, restrictions on designated land, and the effect of any previous extensions to the original house.
What does the neighbour consultation scheme involve?
Once your application is valid, the council writes to the owners and occupiers of adjoining properties. There is a minimum 21-day period for them to respond.
If no objections are received and the council is satisfied the proposal meets the conditions, it can proceed as permitted development. If objections are received, the council assesses the impact of the proposal on the amenity of adjoining premises.
What counts as the original house?
The original house means the building as it was first built, or as it stood on 1 July 1948 if it is older than that. It does not mean the house as it was when you bought it.
This is the single most common reason people discover mid-process that they have less allowance than they thought. A previous owner's extension still counts against you.
Can a neighbour block my extension?
A neighbour cannot veto it. What an objection does is trigger an assessment by the council of the impact on the amenity of adjoining premises. The council then decides.
That assessment is limited in scope. Objections about matters outside it do not carry the same weight as they would on a full planning application. In practice, how the application is presented makes a real difference at this stage.
How long does the process take?
The council has 42 days from the date the application is valid to determine it. The neighbour consultation period sits inside that.
Allow additional time beforehand for drawings and for us to prepare the submission. If the council does not determine within the 42 days, there is a right of appeal for non-determination.
Does this apply to flats or maisonettes?
No. The larger home extension right applies to houses. Flats and maisonettes are not covered by it.
If you own a flat and want to extend, a full planning application is normally the route, and there will usually be leasehold and freeholder consents to deal with separately.
What if my property is in a conservation area?
Designated land, which includes conservation areas, National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and World Heritage Sites, restricts householder permitted development rights considerably.
It does not automatically mean nothing is possible, but it does mean the larger home extension route may not be available and the assessment needs to be done specifically for your property.
Not sure which route applies to your property?
Send us the address and what you are proposing. We will tell you whether there is a Prior Approval or permitted development route worth pursuing, before you commit to anything.
info@planningservicesonline.co.uk
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