Class A Permitted Development Rights - A Powerful Option for Extending your Home

2025-09-12

a row of red brick houses next to a road

Limitations and Considerations

While Class A rights provide significant benefits, it's important to recognise that there are limitations to these development rights.

One of the most common reasons unsuspecting homeowners get caught out is that not all homes in England have Permitted Development Rights. Planning conditions or Article 4 Directions are often used by Councils to restrict or remove Permitted Development Rights. Another anomaly is that flats do not have Permitted Development Rights. If this applies to you, you will need to apply for planning permission for your proposed works.

Another common pitfall is that if your home had a stepped rear wall when it was built your rear extension will be limited to half the width of your original house. This is because the regulations classify any wall which faces sideways to be a side wall, resulting in a mix of a rear and side extension. If your home is on a corner plot, you will not be able to have a side extension under permitted development rules.

Other restrictions include the following:

  • the total ground covered by the buildings (other than the original dwellinghouse) would exceed 50% of the total area of the curtilage (excluding the original dwellinghouse);

  • the highest part of the roof must not exceed the highest part of the roof of the existing house;

  • the height of the eaves must not exceed the height of the eaves of the existing house;

  • the extension must not extend beyond a wall that forms the principal elevation (normally the front wall);

  • where the extension would be within 2 metres of a boundary, the height of the eaves must not exceed 3 metres;

  • extensions that extend beyond a wall forming a side elevation of the original dwellinghouse must not exceed 4 metres in height and must not have a greater width than half the width of the original dwellinghouse.

What about larger home extensions?

In 2020, the Government amended permitted development rights to allow for larger home extensions. In some circumstances, you can extend your home by up to 6 metres for a semi-detached or terraced property and up to 8 metres for a detached property.

This permitted development right requires you to achieve the prior approval of your local council before beginning works. To find out more about this process, see our blog post here.

What other options do I have?

If a Permitted Development Scheme doesn't quite work for you, all hope is not lost, and you can still make use of these powerful Permitted Development Rights. Through the planning system you can identify what you would be able to build using Permitted Development Rights, and require the planners to assess the difference between your Permitted Development scheme and your preferred scheme. This is often referred to as a 'fallback' position.

Conclusion

Class A Permitted Development Rights offer a valuable avenue for homeowners and developers looking to enhance their properties without the exhaustive processes associated with planning permission. Understanding the rules surrounding Class A is key to making informed decisions regarding your home improvements. Always seek specific advice from planning consultants to navigate the complexities of the regulations effectively and ensure your projects are not only viable but also rewarding.

What are Class A Permitted Development Rights?

Class A Permitted Development Rights allow homeowners and developers to extend their properties without the need for extensive planning permission. This provision offers a streamlined process for both residential extensions.

One of the primary advantages of Class A is the ability to undertake certain development projects without having to apply for planning permission. This can save both time and costs associated with the lengthy planning process. Planners and councils hate certain forms of extensions, but with Permitted Development Rights, you can bypass their pet hates, as long as you stick to certain criteria.

What does Class A allow?

In short, Class A allows you to:

  • extend to the rear of your house by up to 3 metres for a terraced or semi-detached house;

  • up to 4 metres for a detached house from the rear of the original house;

  • side extension up to half of the width of the original house;

  • two storey extensions are also permitted in some circumstances.

But, there are limitations and conditions to Permitted Development Rights which catch out hundreds of unsuspecting homeowners each year. As such, you need to be sure that your proposal complies with Permitted Development Rights before starting work.

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