Is Planning Permission Required To Add A Solid Roof To A Conservatory?

Some conservatory owners will barely have got to use their extension over the winter because it’s far too cold to use.

That is a real missed opportunity as a conservatory can be a perfect cold-weather setting. A place for cosying up with your loved ones. 

It is a resolvable issue though. 

Fitting a solid roof to a poorly-insulating conservatory can make it feel lovely and warm inside, no matter how cold it gets outside. 

Many of our customers are aware of this, which is why we have seen incredible interest in our solid roofs since the beginning of the New Year. 

If you’re thinking of getting one too, just be aware that it may require planning permission to add a solid roof, and there are a few other guidelines to be followed:

This is the advice and guidance for solid roof installations:

• Building Regulatory Approval must be obtained when replacing a traditional glass roof or polycarbonate roof with a solid roof. 
• Have a conversation with your local Building Control Officer to ensure the new roof is fully compliant with the rules. 
• Switching from a glass roof to a solid roof causes a “change of use” as it turns a temporary extension into a permanent extension, in the eyes of the rule-makers. This will necessitate a planning application. 
• Did your conservatory need planning approval when it was first installed. If so, and you will be swapping a translucent roof for a solid roof, you must get planning permission and make a full building regulations application. 
• Your conservatory may have had Permitted Development Rights when it was built. However, these rights could well be removed as a consequence of installing a solid roof, so you will then need to make a planning application. 

As has been the case throughout all of the lockdowns, Permaframe is still here for its customers. So, if we can give you any further guidance about solid roofs, you should get in touch here.