Learning Centre
Planning permission, permitted development and dealing with the council, in plain English.
18 guides
The biggest shed, garden room or outbuilding you can build without planning permission in the UK: height limits, the 2.5m boundary rule, the 50% garden limit, and when building regulations apply.
3 min readUK fence planning rules: the 2m height limit, the 1m limit next to a road, listed buildings and conservation areas, replacing an existing fence, and the boundary disputes to avoid.
3 min readWhen garden decking needs planning permission in the UK: the 30cm height rule, the 50% garden limit, listed buildings and conservation areas, and whether building regulations apply.
3 min readWhen a porch needs planning permission in the UK: the 3m² floor area limit, 3m height, 2m from the road, listed buildings, and when a porch is exempt from building regulations.
3 min readWhen a conservatory needs planning permission in the UK: the 3m and 4m depth limits, height rules, the larger home extension scheme, and when it's exempt from building regulations.
3 min readHow long you have to start and sign off a house extension in the UK: the three-year rule for planning and building regulations, when to call building control, and what happens if you never get the completion certificate.
4 min readHow long planning permission lasts in the UK: the standard three-year limit, what counts as starting work, what happens if it expires, and how to extend or renew it.
4 min readArchitect, architectural designer or structural engineer? What each one does on a home extension, when you need which, and whether you need both. Plain English, no sales pitch.
4 min readPlanning permission and building regulations are not the same. Here's the plain-English difference, how they fit together, and why the paperwork protects you.
2 min readA plain-English UK guide to the legal side of a home extension: planning permission, building regulations, the Party Wall Act and common pitfalls to avoid.
12 min readWhat should you ask an architectural designer before a home project under £100k? Essential UK questions on design, fees, planning permission, builders and staying on budget.
5 min readPlanning permission vs building regulations for your UK home extension explained, with permitted development guidance and friendly budgeting advice to stay on track.
4 min readHow do you choose the right designer for your home extension? What an architectural designer is, when you need a chartered architect, and how to pick well in the UK.
4 min readCan you build a house extension without a permit? Yes, if it stays within permitted development limits. A UK guide to the rules and budgeting under £100k.
4 min readYes—you can extend under Permitted Development Rights without full planning permission if you meet size and height limits. A UK guide to building within the rules.
4 min readWhy is planning permission required for your own home? An honest look at what the system protects, why it matters for your investment, and the cost of ignoring it.
3 min readWhy do you need planning permission for a UK home project? A clear guide to when it applies, permitted development, budgeting and avoiding costly, stressful mistakes.
4 min readIs planning permission required for your extension? Often not, many projects fall under permitted development. An honest UK guide to the rules and the risks.
3 min readThat's exactly what the call is for. We'll be straight with you — no pressure, no jargon, no nasty surprises.
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