Extensions to residential properties can be an efficient and, in difficult housing markets, more affordable and practical way of adapting to household changes. However, Enfield Council has specific policies on house extensions guidelines that seek to avoid disrupting the established pattern and reduce impact on residential amenity.
The Enfield planning permission guidelines includes extension guidelines for rear, side, and roof extensions to ensure that they maintain the character and aesthetic of the area.
For rear extensions, the planning guidelines for house extensions says they will only be permitted if they do not impact the amenities of the original building and its neighboring properties. Single storey rear extensions should usually not exceed 3 metres in depth beyond the original rear wall in the case of terraced and semi detached properties, or 4 metres for detached dwelling. For flat roofs, the single storey extension should not exceed a height of 3 metres from ground level when measured to the eaves with an allowance of between 3.3-3.5 metres to the top of a parapet wall. For pitched roofs, the extension should not exceed 4 metres in height when measured from the ridge and 3 metres at the eaves.
For side extensions, as they are more visible from the street they will only be permitted if they do not result in the creation of a continuous facade of properties or ‘terracing effect’ which is out of character with the locality. A minimum distance of 1 metre from the boundary with the adjoining property should usually be maintained.
For roof extensions, permitted development applications are usually followed rather than enfield council guidance as this is usually the most effective way of achieving a larger loft space, however, if a householder application is required due to permitted development rights not being available then they will likely only be permitted if they are of an appropriate size and location within the roof plane and, in the case of roof dormers, being visually subordinate, inset from the eaves, ridge and edges of the roof as well as any existing features such as valley gutters and chimneys. They must be in keeping with the character and materiality of the property, and not dominant when viewed from the surrounding area.
It’s important to note that Enfield has 22 conservation areas with different extension guidelines, including Abbotshall Avenue, Bush Hill Park, Church Street, Clay Hill, Enfield Lock, Enfield Town, Fore Street Edmonton, Forty Hill, Grange Park, Hadley Wood, Highlands, Lakes Estate, Meadway, Montagu Road Cemeteries, Ponders End Flour Mills, Southgate Circus, Southgate Green, The Crescent, Trent Park, Turkey Street, Vicars Moor Lane, Winchmore Hill.
At Detailed Planning, we have extensive experience interpreting planning policies and extension planning guidance with extensive experience in Enfield Borough having completed over 150 successful planning applications and extension projects within 10 years, and can help navigate the extension guidance specific to projects in the Enfield area.
