The purpose of this blog is to clarify a few of the misconceptions about planning and building regulation requirements for applications of this type.
We’ll begin by firstly informing you that most conservatories enjoy permitted development rights, so if you abide by the guidance given out, you shouldn’t experience any problems or headaches. Do plenty of research into adding doors to conservatories and replacing them before you go ahead with a door installation.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CONSERVATORY DOORS
If external grade dividing doors are retained, it makes the majority of conservatories exempt from most parts of current Building Regulations. When replacing an existing door, the new design has to adhere to part L of Building Regulations, despite the conservatory not needing to. Our Premium Retailers will be happy to provide assistance with this.
A full Building Regulation application will be necessary should you choose not include an external door between your conservatory and property as the entire structure must comply. You may need to improve insulation within the rest of your house to nullify any heat loss that emanates from the conservatory to ensure that any heat loss from the new door and structure isn’t worse than the heat loss that occurs elsewhere in the building. A SAP calculation will also need to be conducted by a specialist surveyor, a government approved method of assessing and measuring the energy rating of dwellings. Building Regulations stipulate that any door installed must be of ‘exterior quality’. Conservatories can only be exempt from this rule if you have dividing doors separating the internal entry of your conservatory extension from your abode. The removal of these doors will necessitate Building Regulations approval for the structure. Again, a Premium Retailer can organise this on your behalf.
SOME MORE RULES TO BE AWARE OF
Your plans could be affected by a few additional building regulations, such as what size the conservatory will be, whether it will have an impact on accessibility, and how it will be heated.
DON’T GO TOO BIG WITH YOUR CONSERVATORY
The regulations imposed by your local authority may require you to scale back your conservatory design as it cannot occupy more than 50% of the space that falls within the curtilage of your property.
When trying to work out what size of conservatory to have, remember to think about how big any existing buildings occupying the land are, i.e. sheds and greenhouses, as they will need to be deducted from the available space.
WILL THE CONSERVATORY CAUSE ANY ACCESS ISSUES?
For the purpose of safety, you will need your conservatory positioned so that there are no accessibility issues.
HOW WILL YOU KEEP THE CONSERVATORY HEATED?
You’ll want to spend most of your days in your conservatory either relaxing alone or enjoying it with friends, so it needs to be sufficiently heated.
Any heating system must be independent with separate heating controls to make it comply with the relevant regulations.
Additional considerations:
- Any new building must not extend past the side wall of your house
- A single-storey rear extension cannot stretch more than 3-4 metres
- The new structure’s eaves must not be taller than the height of the house
- On designated land, pebble, stone, plastic or timber cladding is not allowed.
We have Premium Retailers all over the country waiting to assist you. Type in your postcode here to find one locally.
LOOKING TO EXTEND YOUR HOME?
One of our multi-purpose living spaces will give you the roominess that you desire so that you can also invite more people over and feel so much less restricted.
LOOKING TO EXTEND YOUR HOME?
One of our multi-purpose living spaces will give you the roominess that you desire so that you can also invite more people over and feel so much less restricted.
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