A Good Practice Guide
The Council seeks to ensure that house extensions and alterations should relate to the character of the property and general street scene, whilst ensuring that they do not adversely impact upon neighbouring properties. Although primarily aimed at extensions, the below guidelines are equally applicable to new residential development, such as new dwellings.
Although each site and property has different characteristics, this general guidance is aimed at distinguishing between acceptable and unacceptable examples of common types of development. Although guidance, schemes designed in accordance with the advice and principles are more likely to be granted permission than those that don’t.
There may be examples of extensions within the District which do not comply with these guidelines. Any such examples are not seen as a precedent and will not be accepted as a reason to allow a similar proposal.
Each site is unique and as such each application will contain different considerations. When assessing the impact of a proposal, the orientation, positioning and relative ground levels of the application and neighbouring properties will be taken into account. For example, particular care should be taken where an application site lies to the south or on higher ground than the neighbouring property.
In order to protect the character of a residential area, the proposal must be sympathetic and complimentary to its surroundings. It is important that an extension is designed to a high standard which relates to the design of the original property.
General Advice
The following list contains some of the development proposals that you should try to avoid:
- Proposals that are 'unneighbourly' and dominant, resulting in loss of light or loss of neighbour's privacy (see 1 & 2 below), with particular care needing to be taken with balconies that could overlook a neighbouring garden;
- Two storey side extensions to semi-detached houses that could result in a ‘terracing’ effect. Normally, a gap of at least one metre to the side boundary is required at first floor to maintain a reasonable amount of spacing between the pairs of houses;
- Large side extensions that ‘unbalance’ a pair of semi-detached houses. Normally, these should be set back from the front elevation at first floor level to ensure the original house remains the dominant element with the extension being ‘subsidiary’ to it. In this way, the character of the area can be protected;
- Large roof extensions that dominate the original roof slope of the house or change the form of the roof in an area where there is a clear existing pattern;
- Extensions to properties in the rural areas of the District that substantially alter the scale and character of the original dwelling.
1) Loss of Light
Extensions which do not comply with the 45º code and are therefore seen as over dominant and obstructing light will not normally be permitted.
The code aims to guide the size and design of extensions in order to protect the neighbour’s daylight or sunlight and ensure that they do not create an unneighbourly or overbearing effect. A leaflet on the 45 degree guideline can be downloaded (see below) or made available on request or in reception.
Extensions should be designed so as not to cross the appropriate imaginary line drawn at an angle of 45º from the main source of light to the nearest habitable room window in the original face of the adjoining property or properties. Habitable rooms are defined as lounge, dining room, kitchen, study and bedrooms.
- Single storey extensions: The 45º line is taken from the centre point of the nearest habitable room window.
- Two storey extensions: The quarter point of the nearest ground floor window lighting a habitable room and the centre point of a corresponding first floor window is to be used. (A two storey extension is any extension over 4 metres in height)
Download a copy of the 45 Degree Guideline (114kb, PDF).
2) Separation Distance
To limit the potential for over-development, loss of privacy and dominance over adjoining dwellings and to secure a reasonable standard of amenity, facing windows should be separated in line with the following standards:
- Two storey dwellinghouse to a blank two storey gable of a dwellinghouse = 12metres
- Two storey dwellinghouse to a blank three storey gable of a dwellinghouse = 16metres (including obscure gables with windows maintained in obscure glazing)
- Single storey dwellinghouse to a single storey dwellinghouse = 17 metres
- Two storey dwellinghouse to a two storey dwellinghouse = 22 metres
- Three storey dwellinghouse or two storey with habitable rooms on first floor other than bedrooms to a two storey dwellinghouse = 27 metres
- Three storey building with upper floors comprising habitable rooms other than bedrooms to two storey dwellinghouse = 32metres
Download a copy of the Distance Separation Guidance (106kb, PDF).
Within Conservation Areas, where the overriding need is to preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the area, the provisions of this guidance will not be directly applied. However, issues of overlooking, overshadowing or loss of light or sunlight will continue to be taken into account and assessed along with other material considerations. The leaflet on distance separation is available on request or in reception.
Within countryside areas, there are policies in the Warwick District local plan that restrict the scale of extension that can be added to the original dwelling. See policy RAP 2 for further details and please contact planning for further advice.
More Information
For more information regarding how to submit applications please go to Applying for Planning Permission. If you are in any doubt about whether you need to apply, you should consult the Development Control Section of the planning department.
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