"Andy Burns" wrote in message
...
Peter Taylor wrote:

Exemptions from Planning Permission are listed in the Town & Country
Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995. Porches are
permitted unless:

(a) the ground area (measured externally) of the structure would exceed
3 square metres;

Anyone know if the profile of the existing doorway is

+---=========---+
| |
| |
---------------+ +--------------

and a porch was build like this

E F
+---=========---+
| |
A | | B
---------+-----+ +-----+--------
| G H |
| |
| |
+---------=========---------+
C D

Would the 3m^2 area refer to the rectangle ABCD, or the sum of the
rectangles ABCD and EFGH? I would assume the former, on the grounds that
you could initially brick up G-H and move the door forwards, then build
the porch, but ....

Andy, it sounds as though there is already a roof over EFGH. If so, if this
roof was added to the original house after 1948 then the area of EFGH uses
up some of your allowance and therefore will be included in the total 3 sq
m. If the roof was part of the original house then it won't, even though it
is open-fronted. (Such is the clarity of the legislation passed by John
Selwyn Gummer as Environment Secretary and John Redwood as Welsh
Secretary!!!)

Whatever this tells you, you'd be very unwise to just go ahead and build it
without checking with the Planners - it's their decision that counts, not
yours. There might be a host of reasons why they could decide the GDO
should be overruled or doesn't apply. You need to send them a sketch plan
and elevation with measurements and ask them to confirm in writing whether
the proposal is covered by the GDO. If it is you can put his letter with
your deeds and show it to any future purchaser.

Peter