Planning permission confusion - please help!

[ozzia]

We're house hunting at the moment and there isn't an awful lot on the market which ticks the boxes so we've started looking at different properties which have potential to be extended up (bungalows mainly) and maybe add on a conservatory. The planning permission aspect is confusing me, is it a risk to buy then apply if everyone else in the area has done this (I'm guessing seeing as theirs was OK'd ours would be). I know you can have a permitted development, although confused as to how this works and what happens if you want to go bigger..................please help oh wise people!

Permitted development does not mean you can go up and form a house out of a bungalow. This really refers to smaller extensions, eg the conservatory. A larger extension will require planning permission. A loft conversion may not though if you use roof lights.

The best option is to ask the local council (they may charge) and look at the planning applications for houses/bungalows nearby. The documents available will be for "before" and "after". These should be online and easily accessible if they are not too old. You just need the addresses. Generally, if lots of the bungalows have been turned into houses then you can reasonably assume you can do the same. There will be restrictions if it is an area of outstanding natural beauty or a conservation area. Again, ask the council for details. Often councils have their planning policies on line so you can check if your ideas are likely to comply.

Even if other houses have done something you may not alway be able to. You can check out where sewage and water pipes run before you buy. It is difficult to get approval to extend over pipes and if you do get permission it will be more expensive.

We were't thinking of making into a massive house, just a loft extension adding probably 2 bedrooms, possibly 3 (its quite a large bungalow in terms of floor space). Around 90% of the bungalows on the same road have done the same and there are a fair few houses on the same road too but its good to know I can speak to the council.

Its not an area of outstanding natural beauty or a conservation area or anything like that though :-)

Is this a major risk to take?

No, it's pretty much no risk at all.

Make a quick call to the planning office and they will confirm it.

Thanks, I've emailed them with a link to the property on Right Move so hopefully I get a helpful response.

YY to finding out where drains etc are first. Building over can be a big headache.