Planning permission for Juliet balcony - your experiences?

[Julietbalcony]

Lockdown and lounging around in bed a lot has made DH and I realise we'd have a beautiful sunset and morning view if we installed a Juliet balcony.

But, although the gardens are big by modern standards, replacing the existing window with a deep patio door one would give more of a view over 2 neighbours' gardens.

We can already see into those gardens by the way, it's not a new aspect, it's just that a patio style door would be deeper.

The local planning portal isn't all that clear about the rules and I'm not sure if a Juliet balcony is permitted development which wouldn't need planning permission anyway.

Does anyone have any experience of installing one and what you know about planning permission and indeed building regs please?

Is this in your bedroom? I have one in our upstairs lounge in our townhouse and the rails really obscure the view, so I'd suggest glass. Also the doors opening inwards takes space. If you call the planning dept they will usually advise on the phone. We are packed in can see into lots of gardens, I doubt planning take that into account, but remember people can see in more too.

Thanks, yes, good advice about the railings. It is the bedroom and we would definitely have a glass balcony.

I will call the planning office and a local glass and double glazing company who install them and I'd also be interested in hearing from anyone who has retro-fitted one and whether planning was needed/an issue.

We have plenty of space for the doors to open inwards by the way, thanks for highlighting that though.

I was under the impression that you didn't need permission for a Juliette balcony......?
Our last neighbours put one in overlooking our house and garden and the council were told the were allowed to do this!!

@itsme1978 Interesting. Was there already a window which was replaced by your neighbours' balcony? Or was it a completely new installation?

I will call the planning office as their online information is very unclear about whether it would be permitted development or would need planning permission. I think different councils have different rules.

Yes, they had dormer windows before.......

@itsme1978 Thanks.
There's quite a big distance between us and the neighbour diagonally behind us who would have the most impact from this.

In fact we weren't considered close enough to be consulted for our views before they had planning permission for their recent double storey extension.

So I don't think it would have the impact you've experienced from your neighbours, but I obviously don't want any comeback afterwards!

Plus I am more than slightly pissed off at their very noisy building work and foul-mouthed workmen who carried on all the way through the lockdowns

I think Juliet balconies come under P.D. Providing you aren’t in a conservation area or that you haven’t had your P.D. Rights removed - some new builds do or houses that have been extended before.

You’ll need to comply with building regs though. For both the quality of the glass and the height/type of railing. And for any structural work as you’ll need a new lintel if you’re making the opening bigger.

We submitted a planning application for a two storey extension that we were planning. Architect put in a Juliet balcony on what would be our master bedroom and it was rejected. We were told to change it to a window if we wanted to get it through. We would have been just about overlooking two gardens if you stood in one side and looked sideways so the architect hadn't felt it was much more loss of privacy for them than a big window. However, the planners said no!

We had one as part of our planning permission for a 2 storey extension. The planners did not raise any objections. We have sliding doors with ours so we don't lose any floor space.

My understanding is that as long as you can't step out onto the balcony then it's permitted development. It still needs building control.

Obviously the safest thing to do is call the planning department to double check.

Thanks everyone 🙂

PP is required for all balconies. The Permitted development regulations do not differentiate between standard balconies and Juliette style ones. I would definitely check with your local Council.

@Seeline

PP is required for all balconies. The Permitted development regulations do not differentiate between standard balconies and Juliette style ones. I would definitely check with your local Council.

Incorrect. Juliette balconies are PD. Cabrio (Velux) balconies are also PD.

Permitted development rules specifically state that Juliet balconies can be pd.

www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/common_projects/17/extensions

Scroll down to definition of balconies

I can't answer on specifics of planning rules however, when I converted the loft of an end terrace (1890 Victorian London zone 4), I was not allowed a Juliette at all. Reasons given were due to intrusion. This was 2012.

So, I fitted a full height window. It had a minimal bar through the middle (much like a balcony bar) and the top half opened fully. Outwards. From belly button height. My view was still glorious, just only the top half was 'fresh air'. Plus I didn't lose the inside space.

Honestly get a "big window", no bars blocking the view and No pointless bits to clean.

As house faces a west ish sort of direction we have two "big windows" one in the kitchen (It's basically a wall I think the estate agent called it a Dutch window) and aa similar but different type of one in our bedroom

@pipsqueakbollock and @JackieWeaverFever thank you.
Yes, I think this is the way to go. I'm sitting on the bed now thinking a big, top-opening window would do what we want very well without the need of a rail outside.

You can get Juliette balconies without the rail now. They are glass.

https://www.dortechdirect.co.uk/juliet-balcony-easy-glass-view-set-complete.html