Plenty of single storey extensions in Northallerton go ahead without a full planning application. Whether yours can depends on the type of house, how far it projects, where the property sits and what has been done to it before. This guide covers the rules that matter locally, so you know where you stand before you pay for drawings or book a builder.
Most houses have permitted development rights. These let you build a modest extension without applying for planning permission, as long as you stay within set limits. Flats and maisonettes do not have these rights, so any extension to one needs a full application.
For a single storey rear extension, the main limits are:
If you want a deeper rear extension, the larger home extension scheme allows up to 8m on a detached house and 6m on others. You apply to North Yorkshire Council for prior approval, and the council writes to your neighbours. The council looks mainly at how the extension affects neighbours' light and privacy, and it has 42 days to decide. If a neighbour objects, the council weighs that objection, so talking to the people next door early is time well spent.
The fee is far lower than for a full application, at roughly £120. The detail has to be right, though. If the council does not reply within the 42 days you can usually go ahead, but only if what you build matches what you submitted.
Several local factors can take away permitted development rights or limit them. Northallerton has a conservation area around the High Street and the older parts of town. Side extensions there are not permitted development, and the council will look harder at materials and design. Listed buildings need listed building consent for almost any change, inside or out.
Many newer estates around the edge of town, such as the large developments to the north and south, were approved with conditions that remove permitted development rights. Your deeds or the original planning approval will show this, and it is one of the most common surprises we come across. Former council houses and barn conversions in the surrounding villages can also carry restrictions.
A householder application to North Yorkshire Council currently costs around £528, and the council aims to decide within eight weeks. Drawings for a straightforward single storey extension typically cost somewhere between £800 and £2,000, depending on the designer and how complex the job is.
If you believe your extension is permitted development, it is worth applying for a Lawful Development Certificate, which costs roughly half the planning fee. It is not compulsory, but solicitors often ask for one when you sell, and it saves arguments later.
Planning is only half the story. Almost every extension needs building regulations approval, whatever the planning position. This covers foundations, drainage, insulation, structure and fire safety. You can go through the council's building control team or an approved inspector. If you are building on or near a shared boundary, the Party Wall Act may also apply, and you will need to serve notice on your neighbours.
We build extensions across Northallerton, Bedale and the villages in between. We are always happy to look at your plans and say honestly whether they look likely to need consent before you commit to anything.
North Yorkshire Council, which replaced Hambleton District Council in April 2023. Applications, prior approvals and Lawful Development Certificates are all submitted through its planning portal.
No. You must wait for the council's decision or for the 42 day period to pass without one. Starting early can make the work unauthorised.
A conservatory attached to the house is treated as an extension and follows the same permitted development limits. A detached garden room falls under separate outbuilding rules.