One of the most common questions we hear from homeowners across Kent is whether they need planning permission for their extension. The answer depends on several factors.
Under Permitted Development (PD) rights, many single-storey rear extensions can be built without full planning permission. For detached houses, you can extend up to 8 metres from the rear wall (or 6 metres for semi-detached and terraced homes) under the larger home extension scheme.
However, PD rights come with conditions: the extension cannot be higher than 4 metres, must not cover more than half the garden, cannot extend beyond the front elevation, and materials should be similar to the existing house.
Two-storey extensions almost always need planning permission. The same applies if your property is in a Conservation Area, is a listed building, or if you've already used your PD allowance.
Even when planning permission isn't required, you'll still need Building Regulations approval to ensure the work meets structural, fire safety, thermal and drainage standards.
At TEMBOK, we manage the entire process — from initial feasibility and planning applications to Building Regulations sign-off. We work closely with local planning authorities across Kent to ensure smooth approvals.
Our advice: always check before you build. A quick conversation with our team can save months of delays and costly mistakes.