Permitted Development Rights: Complete Guide 2026
Permitted Development (PD) rights let you make certain changes to your home without applying for planning permission. They are automatic rights granted by law — but they come with conditions, and they can be removed or reduced in certain areas.
What you can build under PD
What you can build under PD
Single-storey rear extensions (up to 4m, or 8m for detached under Prior Approval). Loft conversions adding up to 40m³ (50m³ for detached). Porches under 3m². Outbuildings and sheds. Internal alterations. Solar panels. Satellite dishes (with limits). Each has specific conditions on size, height, materials, and boundaries.
PD conditions you must meet
Every PD right has conditions. The most common: maximum depth from the original rear wall, maximum height at the eaves and ridge, materials matching the existing house, no more than 50% of the curtilage covered, not forward of the principal elevation, and minimum distances from boundaries. Break any condition and you need full planning permission.
When PD rights are removed or reduced
PD rights may be reduced if you live in: a conservation area, a National Park, an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), a World Heritage Site, or land subject to an Article 4 Direction. Some properties have PD rights removed by condition on the original planning permission — common on newer builds.
How to check your PD status
Check the planning portal or contact your council. Key things to verify: is your property in a designated area? Has the original planning permission removed PD rights? Have previous owners already used PD rights (affects remaining volume limits)? We check all of this as part of our design assessment.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Extension guides
Ready to start your project?
Complete guide to Permitted Development rights in 2026 — what you can build without planning permission, conditions, exceptions, and how to check your PD status.
Every plan drawn by qualified drafters in Poole, Dorset
Serving homeowners across Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch, Wimborne, Wareham, and the wider Dorset area.