Changing a property is something that can increase its value and bring the owner a sense of accomplishment. What you need to know however is that there are several important rules that you have to follow. You must be sure that you can make the alterations in the first place. If you can’t, there can be some major penalties if you go ahead anyway. Finefair Ltd is here to provide advice to help stop this from happening. We will be able to give you lots of information about the kind of permitted developments Hackney allows.
What are PDRs?
When you change a property in some way, there are many times where you will need planning permission. Due to the existence of permitted development rights (PDRs) though, this is not always the case. These PDRs come straight from the government, and minimise the red tape around specific things. For instance, in certain places, you are free to extend a property if you design it within certain specifications.
If you intend to change your property, you need to start by looking at the available PDRs. These will save you a colossal amount of time, money, and effort on your projects. However, you need to be cautious and inspect the specific rules for your area. Local authorities can change the rules. They can also withdraw them full stop using the Article 4 Directions.
There can be scenarios where it is not clear whether your plan shall be a permitted development. In this case, you would be best off talking to the local authority.
Development restrictions
The Article 4 Directions won’t be the only obstacles restricting the permitted developments Hackney council allows though. Other details you need to watch out for include tree preservation orders (TPOs), listings, and conservation areas. These policies exist to safeguard a location’s heritage and biodiversity.
Hackney itself has 30 conservation areas. They all have rules and management plans in place to conserve them. Thus, you will normally need planning permission if you want to change your properties in some way.
Another point we need to make is that you will be limited to what you can do with your building if there is a local or statutory listing in place. Once again, you will require planning permission for your endeavours, particularly for projects involving extensions or demolitions. The rules here can be strict to protect the style and character of properties.
As for TPOs and rules designed to defend Hackney’s biodiversity, these will restrict what you can do with your building. You must have permission for projects that will affect habitats and trees. In many cases you won’t even be able to build close to them.
Contact us about permitted developments in Hackney
Finefair Ltd knows that numerous changes to structures can add substantial value when done right. In London, this is certainly true because of the finite amount of space. We will assist clients who are looking into projects like these. They may want to work on HMO conversions, extensions, or changes of use.
We will offer you support while you go over the potential options for the permitted developments Hackney accepts. If you look at your property and find out what you can do with it, you may discover some excellent opportunities. Should you decide to go forward, we will be able to help.
So, please give us a call if you are currently thinking about altering your properties. We can review them for you to see what is viable and will provide the best possible ROI.
