Shake-up for home extension rules

Ministers are concerned about the time and bureaucracy involved

Plans to cut red tape and make it easier to build home extensions are expected to be announced by Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly next week.
A White Paper will propose an "impact" test for developments which would currently require planning permission.
Under the proposals, such developments would no longer need permission where there is little impact on neighbours.
At the same time, planning permission rules would be strengthened for local councils to deal with eyesore schemes.
Minor changes
The White Paper is expected to say that planning permission will no longer be required for minor developments, such as conservatories, extensions and micro-generation devices like solar panels, where it is clear they have little impact.
At present householders must go through the planning system if they have already extended the size of their properties, by more than 10% in the case of terraced houses for example.
This happens even where changes are very minor and there is clearly no impact on others. Instead, a new "impact" test would be introduced.
The White Paper will also include a raft of other measures to support householders' desires to improve their homes and streamline cost and lengthy delays in the planning system.
Other measures include:
Allowing minor amendments to be made to a planning permission without the need for a full planning application. This will be able to be done through negotiation with a local authority so, for example, the minor repositioning of a door would no longer need permission
Streamlining information requirements for all applications with, for example, the introduction of a standard application form
Introducing a new fast-track appeals system - streamlining the process for householders for appeals
Ministers are concerned about the time and bureaucracy involved in deciding minor and uncontroversial applications.
The number of householder applications have risen by 114% since 1995 to almost 330,000 per year - and account for around half of applications overall.
These applications are also costly and cumbersome for local people. Currently a single seemingly routine planning application can take up to three months to be decided and cost up to £1,000 to resolve through costs for applications, plans and drawings.
Better focussed
Given that more than nine out of 10 of householder applications generally are finally agreed, ministers believe they are using up scare resources and clogging up the system.
They say these resources would be better focussed on dealing with more difficult decisions and strategic development for local areas, including building more homes for future generations.
It is believed the changes could reduce the number of applications by up to 90,000 per year - up to a maximum of a quarter of householder applications overall.
Ms Kelly will say: "The local planning system should support people's aspirations to improve their homes rather than act as a barrier.
"Many people do not want to move but do want more room to bring up their kids, or to make minor home improvements or tackle climate change through microgeneration.
"We need changes to ensure the system is proportionate, whilst retaining clear, common-sense safeguards on noise, siting and size to protect neighbours."
Urban sprawl
The secretary of state will also make clear that no-one undertaking such home improvements will be required to pay any additional council tax on their homes.
As well as slashing red tape for householders, key pillars of the planning White Paper are expected to include enhancing community consultation and engagement, a better decision-making process for handling major infrastructure projects, planning playing a bigger role in tackling climate change and ensuring planning supports vibrant town centres.
The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has said it fears the White Paper will further undermine the ability of planners to contain urban sprawl.
The organisation said the tone for the document was set by plans to build on about 10,000 acres of green belt land.
The CPRE named eight areas of England where draft plans exist for 19,150 houses and 6,500 acres of further development. It described it as the "largest onslaught on the green belt for decades". The Department of Communities and Local Government said its record showed it could increase building on brownfield sites and protect the green belt.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6670577.stm