New central Government legislation means residents can now extend or add to their homes without the need to apply for planning permission to Derbyshire Dales District Council - provided a new set of limits and conditions are met.

The new regime, which came into force on 1 October, applies largely to the dimensions of the proposed extension, its position on the house and its proximity to boundaries.

But householders are warned they will need to apply for planning permission if:

• They want to build an addition which would be nearer to any highway than the nearest part of the "original house".
• More than half the area of land around the "original house" would be covered by additions or other buildings.

Owners of a listed building and people living in a designated area such as a conservation area, the Peak District National Park or within the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, should check with the local planning authority before carrying out any work.

Building Regulations generally apply for any home extension, though a porch or conservatory built at ground level and with a floor area of no more than 30square meters is normally exempt, provided that any glazing and any fixed electrical installation complies with the requirements of the Building Regulations.

New rules also now apply to paving over a front garden. Elsewhere around the house there are no restrictions on the area of land that can be covered with hard surfaces at, or near, ground level. However, significant works of embanking or terracing to support a hard surface might need a planning application.

Planning permission is not needed if a new driveway of any size uses permeable (or porous) surfacing, such as gravel, permeable concrete block paving or porous asphalt, or if rainwater is directed to a lawn or border to drain naturally.

If the surface to be covered is more than five square metres, planning permission will be needed for laying traditional, impermeable driveways that do not control rainwater running off onto roads.

Planning permission is not normally required for a loft conversion. However, permission is required where the roof space is extended and exceeds specified limits and conditions, and new rules apply from 1 October.

Planning permission is not usually required to replace or maintain a roof or to insert roof lights or skylights. New rules covering what is allowed without planning permission came into force on 1 October and separate rules apply if additional volume is created.

Many kinds of buildings and structures can be built in the garden or on land around houses without the need to apply for planning permission. However, in some circumstances, planning permission is needed and the new regime includes limits and conditions for permitted development.

An existing restriction on solar panels on the roof of a principal or side elevation in a conservation area or World Heritage Site is removed as part of the new rules, underlining the desire to encourage the take-up of micro-generation.

For full details of the rule changes visit the www.planningportal.gov.uk website or contact the District Council’s planning team on 01629 761368 or planning@derbyshiredales.gov.uk