Planning permission/building regs for conservatory?

[starfish4]

Should there have been planning permission/building regs for our conservatory built approx. 1996. When we purchased there weren't any planning permissions/building regs available with paperwork. I seem to remember checking this out at the time and found something along the lines than a conservatory could be erected without permissions as long as it was within 10% of the original floor space of the house (which is was).

We're about to sell our house and being older and wiser, just wonder whether there should have been permission/approval.

Planning permission can be required for conservatories as they count as any other extension. If the property hadn't been extended before, and there were no special restrictions (eg permitted development rights being removed, or located within a Conservation Area) it is likely that pp wouldn't have been necessary.
As it has been erected for more than 4 years, it is exempt from Enforcement Action by the Council ie they couldn't ask for it to be removed. If it causes problems you could apply for a Certificate of Lawfulness from the Council.
Not sure about Building Regs I'm afraid.

Luckily, there has never been an extension added to the property and there are no special restrictions.

The information you provided about Enforcement Action and a Certificate of Lawfulness are handy to know - thanks.

Conservatories don't count as habitable rooms so don't need Building Regs.

Conservatories are exempt from buiding regs if they are under 30 sq m in floor area and are separated from the house.

If you remove the doors between conservatory and rest of house, you need building regs. Or offer to reinstate the doors.