What effect are the new planning regulations having?

Firstly, let us remind ourselves exactly what the new conservatory planning permission regulations are:

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From 1 October 2008 adding a conservatory to your home will be considered to be permitted development, not needing an application for planning permission, subject to the following limits and conditions:

1. More than half the area of land around the “original house”* would be covered by additions or other buildings.
2. No extension forward of the principal elevation or side elevation fronting a highway.
3. No extension to be higher than the highest part of the roof.
4. Maximum depth of a single-storey rear extension of three metres for an attached house and four metres for a detached house.
5. Maximum height of a single-storey rear extension of four metres.
6. Maximum depth of a rear extension of more than one storey of three metres including ground floor.
7. Maximum eaves height of an extension within two metres of the boundary of three metres.
8. Maximum eaves and ridge height of extension no higher than existing house.
9. Side extensions to be single storey with maximum height of four metres and width no more than half that of the original house.
10. Roof pitch of extensions higher than one storey to match existing house.
11. No verandas, balconies or raised platforms.
12. On designated land* no permitted development for rear extensions of more than one storey; no cladding of the exterior; no side extensions.

Where work is proposed to a listed building, listed building consent may be required. * The term “original house” means the house as it was first built or as it stood on 1 July 1948 (if it was built before that date). Although you may not have built an extension to the house, a previous owner may have done so.

* Designated land includes national parks and the Broads, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, conservation areas and World Heritage Sites.

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OK – so what effect are these new regulations having on the conservatory industry?

Personally, I think they are having very little effect, I’ve not noticed any difference anyway.

My company still has a long list of pending orders where customers are awaiting planning permission approval and the list isn’t getting any shorter – it’s actually constantly getting added to.

This is probably due to the number of conservatories that still do not fall within the new planning permission exemption rules, and in particular, consumers are wanting their conservatories to exceed the permitted projection limits to be of any good use as additional living spaces.

I have heard reports from a reliable source (a major supplier) that they are suffering from a lower average order value due to consumers intentionally keeping their conservatories within the limits of the maximum permitted projection to avoid having to apply for planning permission, and therefore ordering smaller conservatories.

Personally, I have not experienced this and our average order value continues to increase with the growing demand for glass roofs and larger conservatories.

I would be interested to hear from anyone else with their comments and experiences regarding this issue.