6 meter extension?

[Chicken2025]

Hi there 👋
I've been lurking on mumsnet for years. First time posting a question of my own.

I've just moved into a mid terraced house, not in a conservation area and no planning restrictions.

Both my neighbours either side have a 3 meter kitchen extension. I'd like to apply for a 6 meter extension either through prior approval or via a full planning application.

I understand that through prior approval if neighbours object then prior approval can be declined. If I go down this route first and if it's rejected do you think a full planning application would get rejected as well?

Anyone been in this situation and if so, what was your outcome?

Much appreciated.

Do you mean permitted development?

If you are in England, then look up the planning portal or speak to your council planning department.

www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/extensions/planning-permission

6m in a terrace is a lot and in many areas would be rejected.
Its also making your floorplan very deep surely, how would you be getting light through the existing house?

6m in a terrace is huge. A lot will depend how close you will be to any boundaries.

Yes if it's refused at prior approval for reasons relating to impacts on neighbours then it'll be refused at full app stage. The planning officer is looking at the same issues and the same harm would still be there if you didn't amend the design

You'd need a really long garden if you were after permitted development I think, because a lot of the rules only allow a certain amount of outside land to be covered (you have to look up the details). You also might have issues with increasing the floor area of a house by a certain size.

Its absoloutly not, most terraces here have extension over 6 meters.

Its permitted without planning permission that terraces have 6 meter extensions because it is so normal/average, the usually run the full length of a back yard.

Ours currently is over 6 meter, as is the new one we are buying (well actually over 10 meters if you include the attached garage that we will be converting, then 15 meters if you include the 2nd story part of the extension, 20 meters if you include the front porch extension too).

Light comes through the windows, like any other building.

@housethatbuiltme *Light comes through the windows, like any other building.

No, light does not travel well beyond 6m into the existing fabric of the building.

An extension encompassing the full length of the back garden would absolutely not be passed now, it goes completely against the London Plan. You’re talking nonsense.

There is a reason 6m doesn’t fall under typical permitted development and you have to have approval for it, because it isn’t always approved!

I thought generally no more than 4m from the rear wall was permitted.

Of course light travels into the building, what are you smoking? do you think the MILLIONS of extended terraces are dark windowless cells. I'm looking out of the living room window into the garden next to my 7 meter long extension right now lol.

This might blow your tiny mind but there is a lot more to the world than London so local rules that apply to 1 city (and not the thread because the OP already listed thats its 'prior approval' rules) means fuck all to most people.

6 meters IS the permitted development on a terrace without planning (which is literally what this thread is about) by the way.

Having spoken to a planning consultant, they've advised prior approval is a form of permitted development. You're only permitted to build if the adjoining neighbours on all sides do not object.

6m isn't a huge extension. It wouldn't occupy a third of my garden and light is achieved through putting in skylights. Our previous home was 2 meters deeper than our new house and had a North facing garden and it was fine. Now we're East facing so can't imagine it would be any worse with a 6 meter extension.

Both my neighbours on either side have 3 meter extensions and therefore they wouldn't be any worse off than I am now. Therefore I guess what I'm asking is, if they reject on basis of prior approval will the planning officer consider this? And in the same way if I applied for full planning application would this be considered?

@Chicken2025 "Both my neighbours on either side have 3 meter extensions and therefore they wouldn't be any worse off than I am now"

The planning officer would take this into account in the assessment of the prior approval application. If the neighbours objected to the prior approval the application would then be assessed in the same way as a planning application in terms of impacts on neighbours.

Can you not ask your planning consultant, @Chicken2025 ? They are more likely to know than mumsnet...

To MiddlingMarch. They're not my planning consultant. It was just general advice whilst trying to look for one. They don't seem to offer specific guidance without hiring. I don't think I'd hire their service until I get rejected as they do seem to charge a hefty sum.

I don't quite agree with you regarding mumsnet. Just like any other forum, there are plenty people who have had their own experiences which they may wish to share.

Is ‘prior approval’ a different way of saying you have a meeting ( over the phone or in person ) with your planning department, talk about your idea and the planning officer lets you know how that planning application ( because I think 6m out will require one ) will fair in front of the planning committee?

Also I thought when you submit the application you will be informing the neighbours of the application so they have the opportunity to looks at it and raise objections if necessary?

If the planning dept said 6m is too far but 4m could be covered by permitted development, would you proceed with 4m ?

@tanstaafl it's a formal application for a certain type of development (larger rear extension) that goes beyond what would normally be permitted development. Due to the size of the extension the council would get to look at the impacts on neighbours if the neighbours object.

@GandTtwice
ok, but is that not covered in a planning application anyway ?

@tanstaafl yes it could be but because it's so big many councils wouldn't want to approve it due to design etc. Previous government added it into the permitted development rights but made sure that a prior approval application had to be submitted so that neighbours could comment on impacts. Councils don't consider other harms under the prior process just neighbour impacts so it can make it easier for people to get a big extension.

So it sounds like it’s trying to make permitted developments a kind of ‘planning application lite’ ?

@tanstaafl The prior approval process for rear extension been around for quite a few years now but it is basically that yes

Hi all, back again with an update. So i have a stepped rear wall where one half comes out about 80cm. On that side i applied for 6m and approved. Now I'm applying for the stepped back side and it turns out my neighbours extension on that side is actually 4m so my extension would potrude by 2m. This neighbour does not want my extension to be bigger than theirs.

So again my question is, as I've already got approval on one side and I'm only coming out 2m past theirs, how would that be assessed if that neighbour objects? Would the planning department think 2m is not impactful? Thanks

Is this a Prior Approval application again? Or have you used up your 50% of the curtilage so no more permitted development?

The outcome will depend on how much the extension impacts the amenities of the neighbouring property, so where do the lie in relation to each other, will any windows be affected and if so which rooms do they serve, will your addition result in a dominant form of development, will it result in a loss of privacy etc. Each case is different and it will come down to the specifics of your proposal.

I’m the chair of planning for a large parish council. Ask your local planning authority (either county or conurbation) for advice as how rules are applied can vary slightly. Planning approvals only last three years so that prior application may have expired, meaning you may need to start from fresh.

@Seeline no I've not used up 50% of curtilage. I had to apply in two parts due to the stepped rear wall. Thanks for the info.

@Loopylalalou thanks. I didn't realise I could ask. I've only just had the first section granted and aboutto submit second section.

My worry was my neighbour with the 4m extension categorically said they don't want our extension to be bigger than theirs because the previous owners of our home didn't allow them to go above 4m. So therefore, I'm wondering should I submit for 6m would I be wasting my time and money and instead go for 5m.

You don't apply in two parts due to the stepped rear wall. You apply once.

Read the technical guidance to permitted development document.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/permitted-development-rights-for-householders-technical-guidance

@Rollercoaster1920 I applied in two parts to secure 6m on one side where I knew I'd have no objections. Otherwise, if an objection arises both neighbours houses are assessed even if one didn't object. Now I'm hoping the consideration is that a 6m extension approval will already exist on one side and if this neighbour objects, then the 2m projection should technically only need assessing.