Conservatory Planning Permission in Scotland

If you want to build a conservatory or orangery to your Scottish home, or if you want to add a porch, you may need to get planning permission first.

Never proceed with these kind of installations without first checking whether planning permission is required, since this might prove to be an expensive mistake.

If an installation is determined to be in violation of planning regulations, your local authorities may force you to make necessary changes to bring the installation into compliance with applicable requirements and file a retroactive planning application. Some may not be so fortunate, and they are ordered to demolish the structure and return the area to its pre-demolition form.

Developments That Are Allowed

There is no need for a planning application when an installation is covered under Permitted Development Rights. This is long enough to meet construction needs, and no Article 4 directive ending permitted development rights has been implemented.

Permitted Development Rights are applicable to a single-story addition (conservatory, orangery) if the following requirements are met:

It is located at the back of the house, extends no farther than 3 metres if the house is terraced, or 4 metres if it is not, and has a maximum height of 3 metres at the eaves (where the wall meets the roof).
It is no taller than 4 metres, including sloping roofs.
It does not take up more than half of your house’s floor space; it does not take up more than half of the ‘curtilage,’ or the grounds behind your house; and it is not located within a conservation area.

A porch is a permissible development if the following requirements are met:

Its footprint (the total amount of floor space it takes up) should not be larger than 3 square metres.
The porch has a minimum of two metres between its border and any border facing a road; it is no taller than three metres; and it is not located inside a conservation area.

However, we always recommend that you contact with your local planning authorities to verify that you are safe to proceed with the installation in case additional approval is necessary.

If a planning application is judged to be necessary, the price is now £202. Once received, the local authorities will publish and tell your neighbours about your plans, and you will be told whether or not planning approval is granted within two months. If you think your planning application was refused unfairly, you have the right to appeal.