extendingyour home

march2007

home extensions design guidesupplementary planning document

birmingham’s local development frameworktheBirminghamplan

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foreword‘Welcome to Birmingham CityCouncil’s guide to help youachieve a well-designedextension to your home. Wehave written the guide to tellyou about our policies on gooddesign and explain what we arelooking for when we assessplanning applications for homeextensions.

We are committed to improvingthe quality of the builtenvironment and promotinggood design. It is essential thatwe retain the character ofBirmingham’s many attractiveand desirable neighbourhoodsand work to raise the quality ofthe city’s more run-down areas.For these reasons, we expect allnew development to be well-designed and in an appropriateplace. We look carefully for thiswhen we receive planningapplications.

Good design is also veryimportant for you as ahomeowner. It is worthremembering that a poorlydesigned extension may notonly spoil the appearance ofyour home but could evenreduce its value. Using thisguide may help you avoidmaking costly mistakes.

Finally, please remember that inmost cases you will needpermission to extend yourhome. Please check the sectionat the back of this guide to findout about the permissions youmay need.

We wish you every success withyour project.’

Councillor Ken Hardeman,Cabinet Member forRegeneration.

Councillor David Roy,Chairman of thePlanning Committee.

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Who is this guide for?

Why good design should matter to you

What are the main principles for a well-designedextension

Principle one: Respect the appearance of thelocal area

Principle two: Ensure the extension does notseriously and adversely affect your neighbours

Principle three: Minimise the impact on theenvironment

Space between buildings and accommodationsizes

Getting permission

Other issues you may need to consider

Notes for homeowners, architects, agents andother professionals

How to contact us

extendingyour home

march2007

home extensions design guide

Section PageThis document builds on ourpolicies for improving the builtenvironment, new developmentand distinct housing needs ofthe economy, as set out in theBirmingham UnitaryDevelopment Plan (paragraphs3.8, 3.10, 3.14 and 5.5).

Its purpose is to provide designguidance specific to the needs ofhomeowners, and their agents,designing extensions to theirhomes.

It sits alongside the City’s otherdesign policies in ‘Places forLiving’, ‘Places for All’ and‘High Places’.

purpose

This guide is for homeownersplanning to extend their home.It explains the design issues youneed to consider. The aim is tohelp you avoid mistakes andensure your proposals meet theCouncil’s standards forplanning permission.

Extending your home is animportant decision and is oftena big expense, so it is importantto consider carefully the sizeand type of extension that bestsuits your needs. Will anextension at the back or side ofthe house be best? Perhaps aloft conversion or building overthe garage are better options foryou? At worst, a poorly designedextension would spoil theoutside appearance of yourhome and reduce its value,impact on your next doorneighbour and spoil theappearance of the street. Insome cases it may be wise tomove house rather than build alarge, costly extension in anunsuitable location.

IMPORTANT ADVICEPlease remember that youmust check with us whetheryou need planningpermission and/or buildingregulations approval for yourextension. There may also be otherissues that you will need toconsider - for examplewhether you live in aconservation area or any ofyour trees are protected by apreservation order. Please check sections 8 and 9of this guide to help you findout whether any of theseissues apply to you.

section 1 and 2

The impact of any extension should respectthe appearance of the streetscene.

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1 2who is thisguide for?

why good designshould matter to you

A poorly designed extension canspoil the outside appearance ofyour home and reduce its value.

SectionSection

There are three main principlesto good design of a homeextension:

PRINCIPLE ONE:Respect the appearance of thelocal area and your home.

PRINCIPLE TWO:Ensure the extension does notadversely affect yourneighbours.

PRINCIPLE THREE:Minimise the impact on theenvironment.

These are explained in detail inthe next three sections of thisguide.

Please be sure to consider allthree principles carefully beforedrawing up plans andsubmitting a planningapplication. Not all theprinciples will be relevant to allextensions. Even if you do notneed permission, you will getthe best results with yourproject by following this guide.

Front extensions usually needthe most careful consideration,because they can be seen frompublic areas. However, sideextensions and in some casesextensions at the back can beseen just as easily. Whatever the

position of your proposedextension, please be sure tothink about how it will affect theappearance of the street,whether it will be in keepingwith the original house and theaffect on your neighbours.

Please contact us if you needany further information anddesign advice - we are here tohelp. Please see the back of thisguide for contact details.

MEETING YOUR NEEDSBirmingham is a multi-cultural,diverse city and we appreciatethat people’s needs whenextending their home may varygreatly. If you have any specialrequirements for the design ofyour extension, please talk to us.Our Planning Officers can workwith you to find designsolutions that are in line withour policies and also meet yourrequirements.

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Consider all three principlescarefully before drawing up plans.

A well designed extension with a roofthat reflects the original building. An inappropriate sized front extension.

A carefully considered extension that responds appropriately tothe appearance of the street and avoids the terracing effect.

Consider the style and appearanceof your street.

section 3

3what are the main principlesfor a well-designed extension?

Section

The Council’s aim is to improvethe quality of the builtenvironment. We do not seek tostandardise the design ofextensions nor are we againstinnovative designs. What we arelooking for is a high standard ofdesign which complements thescale and style of your houseand others nearby.Contemporary designs thatcomplement both the characterand culture of the local area andwhich improve the appearanceof the property will bewelcomed. But we will not allowpoor designs that spoil theappearance of a property or thestreet scene.

Overall, your aim should be tomake the extension look as if itwere part of the original house,unless there are very goodarchitectural reasons for doingotherwise. Please consider:

The style, character andappearance of your home.Your extension should be inkeeping with this, usingsimilar shapes, sizes anddesigns for windows, doorsand other features.The size of your extensioncompared to the size of yourhouse. Extensions should besmaller than the main part ofthe house and not dominateits appearance.

The character of the area.Extensions should fit incomfortably with thecharacter of the area. It isworth taking a look at otherwell-designed houseextensions in your area to getan idea of designs that workwell.The effect of your extensionon the appearance of thestreet and neighbouringhomes. Your extension shouldbe in scale with the width andheight of existing buildings,including floor to ceilingheights. It should beconsistent with the buildingline of other homes in thestreet.

The type, character andappearance of boundarytreatments. Boundarytreatments should be inkeeping with the character ofthe local area especially to thefrontage of your home becausethe front walls, fences, hedgesand paving will havesignificant impact on theappearance of the street.

EXTENSIONS TO THE FRONTOF YOUR HOMEAn extension at the front maynot be acceptable unless theproposal will clearly improve theappearance of your house. Thisis because a front extension candominate the view for passers-by, step out of line from theexisting line of frontages andspoil the character of the houseor area.

PORCHESThe most acceptable type offront extension is a porch. Thedesign should be modest inscale and reflect the style andmaterials of your house. Itshould be in keeping with theappearance of the street.

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Front extensions must not dominate and detract from theappearance of the street. This is an unsuccessful example.

A well designed porch.

A poorly designed dominant porch.

section 4

4principle one: respect theappearance of the local area

Section

EXTENSIONS TO THE SIDE OFYOUR HOMETwo storey extensions, includingbedrooms over garages, canhave a significant effect on thestreet scene. The loss of the gapbetween detached or semi-detached homes can create theimpression of a continuousfrontage. This is called the‘terracing effect’. It can be out ofcharacter with the appearance ofthe area and is best avoided. Forexample, on the first floor, youmay need to reduce the size ofthe extension to leave a visiblegap between the houses or set itback from the front wall of theoriginal house.

Generally, a side extensionshould be designed to look lessimportant than the existingbuilding, the pitch of the newroof should match those on theexisting property, however, theridge line should generally belower than that of the main roofso that it does not dominate theappearance of the house. Onlyoccasionally will a sideextension larger than the mainhouse be acceptable.

EXTENSIONS AT THE BACK OFYOU HOMEExtensions at the back do notusually affect the appearance ofthe street. However, you shouldconsider how it will look fromneighbouring properties. Youalso need to consider whether itwill affect your neighbours’privacy, the view from theirhouse or reduce their daylight.You must apply the Council’s 45degree code to the design ofyour extension (see section 5 ofthis guide).

All extensions at the back mustbe designed to look lessimportant than the existingbuilding so that it does notdominate the appearance of thewhole house.

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section 4

The inappropriate effect of terracing.

An inappropriate side extension. Sensibly scaled side extension.

Setting the first floor back over the garage will helpavoid a significant impact upon the streetscape.

Do not change this...

...to this.

Two storey rear extensions can seriously affectthe outlook and light to adjoining properties.

The pitch of any new roof should match those on the existing property in style and form.

CORNER EXTENSIONSIf your house is on a streetcorner and you wish to extendon the corner side, you musttake extra care to ensure theextension looks attractive fromthe street. Please avoid blankgable ends and large areas ofblank walls. We may refusepermission for garages oncorners for this reason.

It may not be acceptable to buildover the whole area of a cornerplot because it is likely to bevery noticeable and spoil theappearance of the street. Youneed to consider the effect anextension may have on cornerplots that act together withthose opposite to create specificcharacteristic junctions. Youshould consider existingbuilding lines and neighbouring

buildings, the character of thearea, existing trees andlandscaping, and whether it willoverlook neighbouring backgardens.

ROOFSThe roof of your extensionshould fit in with the type andstyle of roofs in the area. Pleaseuse the same or similarmaterials and make sure theslope matches that on yourexisting house andneighbouring homes. Flat roofsare often not suitable, but mayoccasionally be appropriate.

DORMER WINDOWSIf you are considering a dormerwindow, it must not be so bigthat it dominates the roof. Takecare that it is in keeping withyour house generally, with theroof and in particular with thestyle of the windows used onthe lower floors. Choose simplewindows and try to match thestyle of any other originaldormer windows in theneighbourhood.

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section 4

A poorly designed corner is particularlynoticeable and detracts from theappearance of the street.

Examples of rear extensions before...

...and after.

Before...

...and after.

The Council’s aim is toimprove the quality of thebuilt environment.

Do not change this...

...to this.

SLOPING ROOF LIGHTSSloping roof lights aresometimes a good alternative todormer windows as they are lessnoticeable and are less likely toaffect your neighbours’ privacy.In most cases, you do not needplanning permission for rooflights but if you are unsureplease check with us first.Where planning permission isrequired, we would encourageroof lights to be kept to the rearrather than the front of thehouse as this will be more inkeeping with the streetscene.

ROOF SPACE (LOFT)CONVERSIONSAdding extra rooms in your roofspace can be a good way ofmaking your home bigger andcan increase its value. However,if consent is required to add adormer window or roof light itmay not be acceptable if it willspoil the appearance of thestreet. In most cases you do notneed planning permission fordormers, although it is alwaysrequired in conservation areas.You will however need buildingregulations approval.

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Where a dormer is built to thefront elevation it should be

designed to reflect thearchitectural character of thehouse and should be built inproportion to the overall size

of the roof.

A roof extension out ofproportion with the property.

Dormers should normally bebuilt in proportion to the

overall roof size to reflect thecharacter of the house.

The design should reinforce and evolvelocal characteristics that are consideredpositive such as window type, chimneys,architectural decoration and proportion.

section 4

Flat roofed dormers will only be appropriate ifthey reflect the character of the property.

Frontage before...

...and after improvement.

DESIGN DETAILSDecorative features. Pleasekeep all original decorativefeatures or renew them wherethey are damaged. It can alsowork well if you echo originaldecorative features in thedesign of your new extension Chimneys. Please keepchimneystacks whereverpossible - they help improvethe street scene and skyline.Bay windows. New baywindows should have thesame general shape andappearance as original bayson your own andneighbouring homes.Windows and doors. Newwindows and doors shouldmatch those on the originalhouse, with the same size andshape openings. If this is notpossible, they should at leastbe in proportion with othersimilar windows in theneighbourhood.Materials. In most cases, weexpect the materials used tomatch the existing building.Please take care to matchcolours and textures. Thisincludes windows, doors,

brickwork, roofing andarchitectural details. Wherepossible, use reclaimedmaterials. Not only is thismore environmentallyfriendly (see section 6 of thisguide), but you will also bemore likely to get the bestpossible match of colour andtexture. In some cases, wewill ask to see and approvesamples of materials beforeconstruction begins. Usinginappropriate materials cansometimes be an expensivemistake, so do ask us foradvice if you are unsure.

GARAGES AND PARKINGGarages and parking areasshould be in proportion to thesize of the house. They shouldnot stand out as prominentfeatures as this can spoil theappearance of your home andthe character of the area. Youshould ensure that garage doorswould not dominate the frontview of your house. Please donot cover over your front gardento provide extra car parkingspace. It is far better to

incorporate limited parkingspace into a well-designedfrontage, which includes someplanting to soften the effect.This will enhance theappearance of the frontage andmay add value to your home.

A new dropped kerb from thehighway would need approvalfrom Street Services andTransportation and in somecircumstances would requireplanning permission.

section 4

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Responding to the appearance of the property and the street can ensure the uniqueidentity of a place is not harmed. Here we show a good example before and after.

Materials that match the existingproperty should be used.

A side extension before... A porch before...

...and after improvement. ...and after improvement.

The impact of your extensionproposal on your neighbours isanother importantconsideration. Your proposalshould not spoil yourneighbours’ enjoyment of theirhome through loss of daylight,loss of the outlook from theirhome or loss of privacy. To helpprevent this happening and toprotect your neighbours, youmust apply the 45 degree codeto your extension design.

THE 45 DEGREE CODEExtensions at the back of yourhome must comply with theCouncil’s ‘45 degree code’. Thecode is designed to protect aneighbour’s enjoyment of theirproperty. Briefly, it means thatthere must be an angle of atleast 45 degrees between

specified points on yourextension and your neighbour’swindows. An extension shouldnot project beyond the projectedlines.

Please ask us for a copy of the’45 Degree Code Guide’ whichexplains how to apply the policy.

WHAT ARE THE MOSTIMPORTANT SITUATIONS TOAVOID?When designing your extension,the main situations to avoid are:

Significantly reducing the sizeof your garden space or landaround your home. Windows facing the sideboundary, particularly wherethe windows will overlookneighbouring homes andgardens.

Extending beyond the frontbuilding line of neighbouringhomes.

DETAILED ISSUESThe Party Wall Act. If you areproposing to extend on ornear the boundary, you mustcomply with the Party WallAct. The purpose of this lawis to ensure goodneighbourliness whenproposing an extension thatmay affect a boundary sharedwith your neighbour. Pleaseask us for a leaflet thatexplains what you mustconsider and what you mayneed to do.Crossing the boundary. Nopart of the of your extensionshould cross the boundary -this includes foundations andgutters. If this is unavoidable,

by law* you must tell yourneighbour and subsequentlyget their permission. There isa special form for thispurpose - please ask us for acopy. *Section 65 of the Town andCountry Planning Act.Conservatories. If you want tobuild a conservatory up to theboundary, we may expect youto use obscure glazing in sidewindows in some cases (forexample where there is noscreening, such as a highfence). This is to protect yourneighbour’s privacy and yourown.Space between homes. Wherehouses are close together,there must be adequate spaceleft between them to maintainprivacy (please see section 7of this guide). You will alsoneed to refer to our separateguide called ‘Places for Living’for more detailed information.Trees. Protected trees mustnot be damaged or removedas a result of your extension.For more information aboutthis, please see section 9 ofthis guide.

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section 5

5principle two: ensure the extensiondoes not seriously and adverselyaffect your neighbours

Section

A well-designed extension mustnot only look good and enhancethe street scene, it must alsohave a minimum impact on theenvironment. This means that itmust have high standards ofthermal and noise insulation,including the type of glazingused. Ideally, it could be builtusing environmentally-friendlymaterials, reclaimed materialsand materials that are availablelocally. This approach is knownas ‘sustainability’.

DETAILED ISSUESWater and Drainage. Whenplanning an extensionconsideration must be givento the most appropriatemeans of draining both fouland surface water. Separatesystems of drainage should beprovided and under no

circumstances should foulwater be connected to thesurface water system as thiswill lead to pollution whichcould have a significantimpact on the environment.Any new connection to thepublic sewerage system willrequire the approval of SevernTrent Water Ltd, no workshould commence until thisapproval has been granted. Ground conditions. Existingground conditions should befully assessed before any workstarts on site. This is to checkfor the water table level, soiltype and whether there areany buried contaminants orarchaeological remains. Theextension can then bedesigned to take account ofany problems found.

Materials. Use materials thatare durable, recyclable andenvironmentally friendlywhere possible. For examplewood is a major buildingmaterial and by sourcing itthoughtfully you can helpminimize the environmentalimpact. Look for wood thathas been approved by theForest Stewardship Counciland Programmes for theendorsement of ForestCertification SchemesCouncil.Heat and sound insulation.Your extension must be builtto the standard of heat andsound insulation required bybuilding regulations (part L).This standard applies even toreplacement windows.Replacement windows. If youare replacing any windows aspart of your extension work,building regulations state thatthey must be replaced withFENSA approved frame andglass. Orientation of the extension.It can be worthwhile to designyour extension to take accountof the direction it faces. For

example, if it faces south,using larger windows will letin the sun during the wintermonths and help reduce yourheating bills (although youmay need to consider blindsor other ways to control theheat in the summer). Youshould only do this providedlarger windows will notconflict with other designissues in this guide,particularly your neighbours’right to privacy.Roof space (loft) conversions.Generally these are more cost-effective and energy efficientthan an extension. Using theroof space also means you donot lose any garden space orobstruct daylight. We suggestthat you do not use standardtrussed rafters in a new roof,because these prevent use ofthe roof space in the future.Conservatories can provide auseful addition to your house,but you must ensure thatthere is a fully insulated wallbetween the conservatory andthe house. This shouldinclude airtight windows anddoors.

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Contemporary design that improves theappearance of the property will be welcomed.

section 6

6principle three:minimise the impacton the environment

Section

section 7

Please remember emphasisshould be given to seekingqualitative, rather thannumerical solutions, therefore itis not enough simply to applythese standards. Your extensionwill only be acceptable if thedesign is consistent with themain principles in this guide.

Design point:Space between buildings facingone another at the front or back.Minimum standard:

21 metres for a two-storeyextension.27.5 metres for three storeysand above, or where the mainliving room or kitchenwindow is above ground leveland will overlookneighbouring homes.The distance should beincreased by 2 metres forevery 1 metre rise in groundlevel between the extensionand existing homes.We will apply these standardsmore strictly to extensions atthe back of the house ratherthan the front.Single storey extensions,where privacy is less of anissue, are judged on theirmerits.

Design point:Main windows overlookingexisting private space.Minimum standard:Set back 5 metres for eachstorey. This appliesindependently to the spacingstandards above.

Design point:Elevations (external walls) withwindows.Minimum standard:

12.5 metres betweenwindowed elevations and oneand two storey flank wallsopposite15.5 metres for three storeyflank walls.Where a flank wall will behigher than a windowedelevation, increase the spacebetween them by 1 metre forevery 1 metre change in theground level.

It is important to leave anappropriate gap or spacebetween your extension andneighbouring buildingsespecially along boundaries.This is to protect yourneighbours’ enjoyment of theirhome, and the enjoyment of youand future residents of yourhome. Ensuring that theinternal accommodation isdesigned to be large enough forcomfortable use is alsoimportant.

Usually adequate spacing andsize can be achieved throughcareful design. But in somecases where this is not possibleor appropriate, we reserve theright to apply the Council’sminimum standards. These areset out in the paragraphs below.

Even where concerns aboutspacing and sizes can be dealtwith through design, thesestandards provide a usefulguide. For example, leaving 21metres between the backs ofhouses facing one anotherensures a reasonable gardenlength and some degree ofprivacy without high screening.Similarly, using a 1.8 metre highfence or other screening willgenerally ensure thatneighbouring gardens are notoverlooked from ground level.

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7space between buildingsand accommodation sizes

Design point:Screening the extension forprivacy.Minimum standard:Screen walls or fences on theboundary must be at least 1.8metres high unless adequatemature hedges, trees or fencingalready exists.

Design point:Bedroom sizes.Minimum standard:These areas may include fittedwardrobes but should excludeairing cupboards andbulkheads:

12.6 square metres (135square feet) minimum for thefirst double bedroom;10.26 square metres (110square feet) minimum for thesecond double bedroom;6.56 square metres (70square feet) minimum forsingle bedrooms.

Design point:Garden sizes.Minimum standard:

70 square metres minimumfor a family home.52 square metres for 2 bedhouses (permitteddevelopment rights may beremoved). See Section 8.30 square metres for eachunit for flats and otherdevelopments with communalgrounds.

Adequate spacing and size can beachieved through careful design.

Section

section 8

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PROFESSIONAL HELPTo get the best result werecommend that you employeither an architect orarchitectural technologist todraw up plans for yourextension. This person shouldbe able to design an extensionthat will best meet your needsand fit comfortably in with thecharacter of the local area. Theymay also be able to act as youragent and submit any necessaryapplications, such as forplanning permission andbuilding regulations approval,on your behalf.

There are two important firststeps to getting permission:1. Check with us whether youneed planning permission orbuilding regulations approval.2. Discuss your proposals withyour neighbours. If you submita planning application we willconsult them, but it can helpavoid conflict if you talk to themat an earlier stage.

It is important to note that youare in a better protected positionif you obtain planning approvaland building regulations beforeany construction work starts.Failure to do this can causeenforcement action to betriggered.

PLANNING PERMISSIONIf you do need planningpermission, you will need tocomplete and submit aHouseholder PlanningApplication form.

BUILDING REGULATIONSAPPROVALIt is likely that you will needbuilding regulations approval,even if you do not needplanning permission. Pleasecheck with us early on. Buildingregulations are the nationalminimum building standardsthat provide acceptable levels ofhealth and safety for people whooccupy or visit buildings. Theregulations are also concernedwith energy conservation andmaking buildings moreaccessible for all disabledpeople. Most building workmust be checked to ensure itcomplies with the regulations.

The City Council runs a schemeto help avoid problems with‘cowboy’ builders. ContactBuilding Control for moreinformation.

If you decide to extend yourhome we recommend that youcontact us early on to discussyour proposals. We have a teamof Planning Officers dedicatedto dealing with domesticextensions who can advise youabout the permissions you mayneed, the application fees anddesign issues.

Some small extensions may notneed planning permission. Thisis because most but not allhomes have some form of‘permitted development rights’.You need to check with us tofind out what permitteddevelopment rights you mayhave on your home. In somecases these rights have beenremoved.

8getting permission

OTHER PERMISSIONSYou may also need other typesof permission, depending onwhere you live. For example ifyou live in a listed building youmay need listed buildingconsent. Please see section 9 ofthis guide, ‘Other issues youmay need to consider’. Youshould check with us early onwhether there are otherpermissions you may need.

WHERE TO FIND OUT MORE:Application forms forplanning permission andbuilding regulations approvalare available on our websitewww.birmingham.gov.uk/planning. Alternatively we canpost forms to you or you cancollect them from our offices. You will also find on ourwebsite full information onhow to apply for planningpermission and buildingregulations approval anddetails of fees.We also have available anumber of leaflets that mayhelp you, including leafletsexplaining how to make aplanning application and thedifference between planningpermission and buildingregulations approval.

Werecommendthat youcontact usearly on todiscussyourproposals.

Section

section 9

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LOCALLY LISTED BUILDINGS:Locally listed buildings arebuildings of importance toBirmingham that do notcurrently enjoy statutoryprotection. Any proposals forthe demolition, alterationand/or extension of a LocallyListed Building should ensurethat all new works and any newbuildings are of at leastequivalent quality to the originalbuilding and make a similarcontribution to its setting.Planning consent will often beneeded for such works.

IF YOUR HOME IS IN ACONSERVATION AREA:A conservation area is an area ofspecial architectural or historicinterest the character orappearance of which it isdesirable to preserve orenhance. Before carrying outany works in a conservation areayou are advised to contact us todiscuss the proposal. Beforecarrying out any demolitionwork (for example knockingdown an existing garage as partof your extension plans) youmay need conservation areaconsent. This is to ensure thatproposals are of a high enoughquality so not to harm thecharacter or significance of thatrea. All trees in conservationareas are protected - please see‘If your extension may affectprotected trees’ below.

IF YOUR HOME IS IN AVILLAGE ESTATE AREA:Before carrying out any workyou may need to obtain consentfrom the Estate Trustees as wellas any consent required fromthe Council when proposing toextend your home.

PHYSICALLY SAFER HOME:Householders will need toconsider aspects of the interiordesign when making extensionplans and when fitting out theseinteriors. A physically saferhome environment can helpreduce the number of homeaccidents and is a cost-effectiveroute to health improvement.

IF YOUR EXTENSION IS FORSOMEONE WITH ADISABILITY:We are always willing to helpyou find acceptable solutions todesign problems and as withany extension proposal, it is bestto consult us at an early stage.Wherever possible, we willsupport proposals that are forthe sole benefit of someone witha disability. However, it is stillimportant to apply the design

principles in this guide, inparticular to ensure thatneighbours are not adverselyaffected by your proposals. Wewill be more flexible aboutdesign in some cases.

IF YOUR HOME IS IN AN AREATHAT MAY BE OFARCHAEOLOGICALIMPORTANCE:If your extension might disturbarchaeological remains, youmay need to have anarchaeological evaluation carriedout. You will need to submitwith your planning application areport from a qualifiedarchaeologist which explainshow the remains might beaffected and what action youwill take to preserve them.Please contact us for advice ifyou think this may apply to you.

IF YOUR EXTENSION MAYAFFECT PROTECTED SPECIES:Some animals are protected bylaw and it may be an offence todisturb them or damage ordestroy the place they occupy.The species most likely to beencountered when considering

IF YOUR HOME IS IN THEGREEN BELT:Most types of development inthe green belt are not allowed.However extensions to existinghomes may be acceptable if theyare in scale with the existingbuilding. You also needplanning permission to extendyour garden onto agriculturalland in the green belt, because itinvolves a change of use.

IF YOUR HOME IS A LISTEDBUILDING: If your home is listed, you willneed to make a separateapplication for listed buildingconsent before you can extendit. Your extension must notadversely affect the character ofthe existing building andhistorical features must not beremoved. The design of theextension and the materialsused should be in keeping withthe original building. It is alsoimportant to recognizebuildings of historic qualitywhich do or could make apositive contribution to theenvironment and character ofan area, whether listed or not.

9other issues you mayneed to consider

an extension are bats in theproperty itself or great crestednewts in a garden pond. If youthink that these species may bepresent you must inform usbefore carrying out any worksand you may require specialistadvice to ensure that youremain within the law. Thisapplies even if you have beengranted planning permission.

IF YOUR EXTENSION MAYAFFECT PROTECTED TREES:Some trees on private land,including private gardens, areprotected by tree preservationorders. All trees in conservationareas are protected. Yourextension must be designed sothat protected trees are notremoved or damaged. You mustask us for permission beforecarrying out any work to aprotected tree, including treesurgery.

EXTENDING YOUR GARDEN:You will need planningpermission to extend yourgarden onto publicly used land,such as highway verges, becauseit involves a change of use. Youalso need planning permissionto put up a fence more than 1metre high to enclose the land ifit is next to a road.

Generally the Council has noobjections to garden extensionswhich involve using small areasof open land on housing estates,but you will need to get approvalfrom the landowner. We are lesslikely to give approval if youwant to extend onto playingfields or a path.

Listed Buildings: The design of theextension and the materials used should bein keeping with the original building.

Section

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section 10 and 11

A Householders Guide toMaking a Planning Application.

Home Works and House ProudInitiatives.

The Birmingham PlanSustainable management ofurban rivers and floodplains.Draft SPD August 2006.

DoE (1997).PPG1 - General Policies andPrinciples.

DoE (1994).PPG15 - Planning and theHistoric Environment.HMSO.

DTLR Planning.A Guide for Householders.

PPS9: Biodiversity andGeological Conservation.

DEFRA’s European ProtectedSpecies Guidance Note.

Planning Policy Statement 1:Delivering SustainableDevelopment, (2005) DTLR.

Better places to live by design: acompanion guide to PPG3,(2001) DTLR.

RoSPA Home Safety Dept.Can the home ever be safe.

Severn Trent Water.Preventing Pollution.

Bin it don’t flush it.

The Water Supply (WaterFittings) Regulations 1999.

The Water Byelaws 2000.

Forest Stewardship Council.www.fsc-uk.org

Programmes for theEndorsement of ForestCertification Schemes Council.www.pefc.co.uk

DCLG (ODPM).Building Regulations ExplanatoryBooklet.www.dclg.gov.uk

For a copy of thisguide in large print,another language orother alternativeformat, pleasecontact us.

Telephone:(0121) 303 1115

Minicom:(0121) 303 3992

PLANNING ENQUIRIES:

www.birmingham.gov.uk/planning

Planning ControlHouseholder TeamBirmingham City CouncilPO Box 28 Alpha TowerSuffolk Street QueenswayBirminghamB1 1TU

Telephone Planning Direct on:(0121) 303 1115

E-mail: planning.enquiries@birmingham.gov.uk

Fax: (0121) 303 4838

Minicom: (0121) 303 3992

Extending Your Home andplanning policy

‘Extending Your Home’ hasthe status of SupplementaryPlanning Document. It builds on our policy ofimproving the builtenvironment, newdevelopment and distincthousing needs of theeconomy, as set out in theBirmingham UnitaryDevelopment Plan(paragraphs 3.8, 3.10, 3.14 and5.5) and sits beside designguidance in ‘Places forLiving’.The Birmingham Plan isavailable at local libraries, onthe internet atwww.birmingham.gov.uk/udpand at our offices.

OTHER USEFUL READINGBirmingham City Council.The 450 Code Guidelines forHousehold Extensions.

Places for Living.Guidance for new residentialdevelopment (2001).

Conservation Areas and ListedBuildings.A guide for owners and occupiers.

Adapting your Home forSomeone with a Disability.

Green Belt Development ControlPolicy.

Building Regulations -Homeowner Handbook.

Planning Permission andBuilding Regulations Approval -A Guide for Householders andSmall Businesses.

10 notes for homeowners,architects, agentsand other professionals

BUILDING REGULATIONSENQUIRIES:

www.birmingham.gov.uk/buildingconsultancy

Building ConsultancyBirmingham City Council1 Lancaster CircusBirminghamB4 7DY

Telephone Building ConsultancyDirect: (0121) 675 7006

E-mail: building.consultancy@birmingham.gov.uk

Fax: (0121) 303 4841

Minicom: (0121) 464 0938

STREET SERVICES ANDTRANSPORTATION:

Dropped kerb crossingsBirmingham City Council

Telephone direct: (0121) 303 7577

E-mail: droppedkerbs@birmingham.gov.uk

www.birmingham.gov.uk/droppedkerbs

11how to contact us

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Section

extendingyour home