Planning

Applications for planning permission to carry out domestic work constitute the largest single category of applications dealt with by the council (approximately 40% of the total).

The following summary provides general guidance on a number of minor domestic works which may normally be undertaken without the need for an application for planning permission. However, professional advice should always be sought before carrying out works, because the regulations themselves are complex. Particular care must be taken if the house is a listed building, is within a conservation area, is affected by an Article 4 Direction or is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Some properties in Medway have further restrictions on the work that can be carried out without planning permission. For example, some developments had conditions imposed when they were built that restrict the permitted development rights that relate to the property. Please use the contact information at the foot of this page before starting any building work to find out if your property is affected by any such conditions.

Extensions or other alterations do not need planning permission provided that:

• measured around the outside, the extension is less than 70m³ or 15%* of the volume of the original house, whichever is the greater. If the house is in a terrace, a conservation area or an AONB, the limit is 50m³ or 10%*. If the house has been extended before, the volume of this must be added to the new work and together, be less than the limit;
• any extension does not project above the highest part of the roof of the original house;
• no part of the extension is within 20m of any highway. However, if the original house is less than 20m from a highway, any extension must not be nearer the highway than the original house;
• no part of any extension, within 2m of a boundary, is more than 4m high;
• the total area of such building does not exceed one half of the garden area;
• within a conservation area or AONB, no cladding of any part of the exterior with stone, artificial stone, timber, plastic or tiles, is carried out.

* In these cases, an overall maximum of 115m³ applies.

Roof extensions do not need planning permission, provided that:

• any extension does not exceed the highest part of the existing roof;
• any extension does not extend beyond an existing roof slope which fronts a highway (a footpath may be a highway for the purposes of this provision);
• the cubic content of the house is not increased by more than 40m³, in the case of a terraced house or 50m³ in any other case;
• as with other extensions, the cubic content of the original house is not increased beyond the limits set out above. If the house has been extended before, the volume of this must be added to the roof extension and the result must be less than the relevant limit;
• the house is not in a conservation area or an AONB.

Swimming pools, garages, garden sheds, greenhouses, etc, required for domestic purposes do not need planning permission, provided that:

• any development is not within 20m of a highway. If the original house is less than 20m from a highway, any development must not be nearer the highway than the original house;
• any building greater than 10m³ is not within 5m of the house. Such buildings may sometimes be treated as extensions;
• in the case of a ridged roof, its height does not exceed 4m and in any other case, 3m;
• any building is not greater than 10m³, if the house is listed or if it is in a conservation area or an AONB;
• the total area of any development does not exceed half of the garden area of the house.

Please note - an application for planning permission may be needed to form or alter an access to a highway, particularly if it is a classified road.

Porches do not need planning permission, provided that:

• their floor area does not exceed 3m²,
• they are not more than 3m high,
• they are not within 2m of any highway (a footpath may be a highway for the purposes of this provision).

Containers for the storage of oil for domestic heating do not need planning permission, provided that:

• their capacity is not more than 3,500 litres,
• they are not more than 3m above ground,
• they are at least 20m from the highway or if the original house is less than 20m from the highway, not closer to the highway than the original house.

Hardstandings within the garden of a house for domestic purposes, e.g. a patio or a car parking space, do not need planning permission, although an application for planning permission may be needed to form or alter an access to a highway, particularly if it is a classified road.

Gates, fences or walls do not need planning permission, provided that:

• they do not exceed 1m in height adjacent to a highway used by vehicles or 2m elsewhere;
• they do not exceed the height of any existing gate, fence or wall if these are greater than the heights referred above
• the house is not listed.

A satellite antenna does not need planning permission, provided that:

• it does not exceed 90cm in any dimension or 45cm, if installed on a chimney;
• there is no other satellite antenna on the house or within the garden;
• it is not higher than the highest part of the roof or the highest part of the chimney if installed on a chimney.

Please note - special restrictions apply in conservation areas and AONBs. In all cases, an antenna must be sited to minimise its effect on the external appearance.

The painting of the exterior does not need planning permission, provided that it is not for the purpose of:

• advertisement,
• announcement,
• direction.

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