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GPDO 2015 England Permitted Development rules · statutory fees effective 1 April 2026

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Extensions & Lofts Schedule 2, Part 1 · Class A · <30m²

Conservatory & Orangery Rules: Planning Permission and Building Regs Exemption

Planning law treats a conservatory exactly like any other extension – it must fit the Class A limits of 3m (semi/terrace) or 4m (detached), or up to 6m/8m via Prior Approval. Building Regulations are different: a true conservatory under 30m² that is thermally separated from the house is exempt. Check both tests below.

If PD
£0
Application
£548
Decision
8 wks

Step 1 · Your project

Conservatories checker

House type
3.0m
Within 2m of a boundary?
2.4m
14m²
Separated from the house by external-quality doors or walls?
Roof construction
Article 2(3) land (e.g. conservation area)?

Rules reflect the GPDO 2015 (England) for houses. Flats, maisonettes, listed buildings and Article 4 areas have restricted rights. Disclaimer.

Step 2 · Live statutory assessment

Permitted Development & Building Regs Exempt

Class A · <30m²

Your 3.0m conservatory is Class A Permitted Development and, as a separated glazed structure under 30m², exempt from Building Regulations.

  • Depth 3.0m is within the 3m standard limit.
  • Eaves 2.4m comply with the boundary rules.
  • Meets the Building Regulations exemption (under 30m², thermally separated, glazed roof).
SIDE ELEVATION – CONSERVATORY PROJECTION
ORIGINAL HOUSE EAVES 2.4m PRIOR APPROVAL 6m STANDARD PD 3m PROJECTION 3.0m

England fees & timings (from 1 April 2026)

Council application fee

£0

Class A right

Lawful Development Certificate

£274

Optional proof for a sale

Decision time

0 weeks

Build immediately

Applying online via the Planning Portal adds a £91 service charge (inc. VAT).

Builder & neighbour spec sheet

Export these exact limits and your answers to share with your contractor.

At a glance

Conservatories: the statutory limits in England

  • Max 3m rear projection for semi-detached/terraced houses and 4m for detached as standard Permitted Development.
  • 6m / 8m possible through Larger Home Extension Prior Approval (£249, 42 days).
  • Eaves no higher than 3m within 2m of a boundary; overall height max 4m.
  • Conservatories are exempt from Class A’s ‘materials of similar appearance’ condition.
  • Building Regs exemption: ground level, under 30m² internal floor area, separated from the house by external-quality walls/doors, independent heating, and compliant glazing.
  • To count as a conservatory, at least 50% of the walls and 75% of the roof must be glazed or translucent – most solid-roof orangeries are not exempt.

Statutory reference

Legislation summary & 2026 fee table

England statutory planning fees effective 1 April 2026. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland operate different regimes.

GPDO legislation and fee summary for Conservatories & Orangeries
Primary legislation Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (SI 2015/596), as amended
GPDO Schedule / Part Schedule 2, Part 1
Class Class A – enlargement of a dwellinghouse (conservatories included)
Exact reference GPDO 2015 Sch.2 Pt.1 Class A, A.1, A.3(a) (conservatory materials exception); Building Regulations 2010 Sch.2 Class VII
Standard application fee £548 – Householder planning application
Lawful Development Certificate (proposed) £274 – optional proof the works are lawful
Prior Approval (Larger Home Extension) £249 – 42-day neighbour consultation
Planning Portal service charge £91 (inc. VAT) if submitted online
Council determination period 8 weeks (Prior Approval: 42 days)
Key exclusions Larger Home Extension not available on Article 2(3) land. Conservatories are exempt from the ‘similar materials’ condition.

Avoid enforcement

The 3 most common homeowner traps

Trap #1

Calling an orangery a conservatory

Building Regulations only exempt a conservatory – a structure with at least 50% glazed walls and 75% glazed roof. Most orangeries have a solid perimeter roof with a lantern, so they are treated as extensions and need full Building Regulations approval for insulation, structure and fire safety.

Trap #2

Taking out the doors later

The exemption depends on thermal separation. Removing the patio doors to open the conservatory into the kitchen – or extending the central heating into it – is building work needing approval, and usually means upgrading the glazing and roof to extension standards.

Trap #3

Forgetting earlier extensions

A conservatory added to the back of an existing kitchen extension is measured from the original rear wall, so the depths add up. A 2m kitchen extension plus a 3m conservatory on a semi is 5m – Prior Approval territory, not standard PD.

Separate legal regimes

Building Regulations vs planning permission

Conservatories are one of the few extensions that can be exempt from Building Regulations – but only if every condition is met:

Size and level
Built at ground level with an internal floor area under 30m².
Thermal separation (Part L)
Separated from the house by external-quality walls, doors or windows, with no extension of the house heating system.
Safety glazing (Part K)
Glazing and fixed electrical installations must still comply with Building Regulations even when the structure is exempt.
Solid roof replacements
Replacing a glazed roof with a solid tiled roof needs Building Regulations approval – the structure must carry the extra load and meet insulation standards.

Conservatories built on the boundary of a semi-detached or terraced house usually need a Party Wall etc. Act 1996 notice – Section 1 for a new dwarf wall on the line of junction (one month) or Section 6 for foundations within 3m of the neighbour’s house (one month).

FAQs

Conservatories: frequently asked questions

Do I need planning permission for a conservatory?

Not if it meets Class A: max 3m deep (semi/terrace) or 4m (detached), max 4m high, 3m eaves within 2m of a boundary, and no more than half the garden covered. Deeper conservatories need Prior Approval (£249) or a householder application (£548).

Is an orangery exempt from Building Regulations?

Usually not. An orangery with a mostly solid roof does not meet the conservatory definition (75% glazed roof, 50% glazed walls), so it needs full Building Regulations approval like any single-storey extension.

Can I put a solid roof on my conservatory?

Planning permission is rarely needed if height stays within Class A limits. Building Regulations approval is required, because the structure must carry a heavier roof and meet insulation standards. Use a contractor who registers the work with Building Control.

Does a conservatory count towards the 50% garden rule?

Yes. All extensions and outbuildings built since 1 July 1948 count towards the 50% curtilage limit, including conservatories.

Sources: The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 and amendments (legislation.gov.uk); MHCLG ‘Permitted development rights for householders: technical guidance’; the Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications…) (England) Regulations 2012 as amended; Building Regulations 2010 Approved Documents; Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Last reviewed 15 October 2026. See our editorial standards and disclaimer.

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