Guidance notes for completing a Prior Notification

For a period of three years, between 30 May 2016 and 30 May 2019, house holders will be able to build larger single storey rear extensions under permitted development.

The size limits will double from 4 metres to 8 metres for detached houses, and from 3 metres to 6 metres for all other houses. 

Please note that these new procedures do not apply in conservation areas or within the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and planning permission will still be required for single storey rear extensions over 3 metres for an attached house and over 4 metres for a detached house.

The Prior Notification form

The Prior Notification form has been designed to help ensure that you provide us with the information required by the legislation relating to larger home extensions. For more information on this change to the legislation, please visit the Planning Portal extensions page.

The process is different to applying for planning permission, and is a 'notification' procedure, whereby you will advise us of your intention to extend your property. 

Your notification needs to include:

• a written description of the proposal which includes the length that the extension extends beyond the rear wall of the original house, the height at the eaves and the height at the highest point of the extension
• a plan of the site, showing the proposed development
• the addresses of any adjoining properties, including at the rear
• your contact address and an email address if you are happy to receive information by email

Fee

The fee is £96.00. 

Further information to help us with your notification

If an objection is received from the owner/occupier of any adjoining premises, we will be required to consider the impact of the proposed development on the amenity of all adjoining premises.

If we consider that the information you have submitted is insufficient for us to be able to assess this impact, we may ask you to submit further information, or we may refuse prior approval on the basis that the information you have submitted fails to demonstrate that the impact would be acceptable.

To reduce the likelihood of a refusal, you may wish to submit further information when you complete the online form. In particular, please consider the following:

• Although the legislation requires you to state the 'maximum height' and the 'height of the eaves' of the extension, this information by itself may not necessarily establish what would be the height of the part of the extension nearest to the adjoining premises. For example, would the extension have a hipped roof or a mono-pitched roof, and if the latter what would be its orientation? Would the roof of the extension have raised parapet walls, and if so what would be their height? You may, therefore, wish to submit further information at this initial stage about the height and design of the roof of the extension.
• As advised by the DCLG Permitted development for householders - Technical Guidance 'height' is measured from the highest part of the surface of the natural ground immediately adjacent to the proposed development. If the natural ground level adjacent to the proposed development is not uniform, then you may wish to submit further information at this initial stage to demonstrate that the figures that you have stated for the "maximum height" and the "height of the eaves" of the extension are based upon the correct interpretation of the term 'height'.
• To enable the impact of the proposed development on the privacy and overlooking of adjoining premises to be assessed. You may wish to submit further information at this initial stage about any windows and other areas of glazing, including their position and size, whether they would be clear-glazed or obscure-glazed, and whether they would be opening or non-opening.
• To enable the owners and occupiers of the adjoining premises to know what materials would be used for the proposed development, you may wish to submit further information at this initial stage about materials.