Home extensions, planning & design

Articles & Advice

Clear answers to the questions that come up when you’re changing your home. Practical guides for homeowners in England, from the first idea to the technical drawings.

Start with the essentials

Planning your next step

Existing roof and ground-floor plans of a house showing an attached garage

Garage conversions & planning5 min read

Do you need planning permission for a garage conversion?

When a garage conversion can proceed without a planning application, which restrictions to check and why Building Regulations still matter.

9 October 2026Read the guide

Proposed section through a two-storey house extension showing beams, roof structure and foundations

Extensions & structural design5 min read

Do you need a structural engineer for a house extension?

When structural calculations are likely to be needed, what an engineer provides and when to bring them into the extension design.

8 October 2026Read the guide

Completed timber-clad rear extension viewed from the garden

Planning applications & timescales4 min read

How long does planning permission take for a house extension?

When the eight-week period starts, what validation means, why decisions can take longer and how to plan the work that follows.

7 October 2026Read the guide

Proposed elevations showing a rear dormer and roof alterations for a loft conversion

Loft conversions & drawings5 min read

What drawings are needed for a loft conversion?

The drawings needed to design the space, confirm the planning route, obtain Building Regulations approval and get a clear builder's price.

6 October 2026Read the guide

Timber-clad garden room built as a rear extension to a house

Garden rooms & Building Regulations4 min read

Does a garden room need Building Regulations approval?

The 15 m² and 30 m² exemptions, the boundary test, sleeping accommodation and why electrics still need checking.

5 October 2026Read the guide

Proposed ground-floor plan from a Lawson-Gill extension drawing package

Builder quotes & technical drawings4 min read

Are planning drawings enough for a builder’s quote?

When planning drawings are enough for a budget figure, and what to add before asking for a firm, comparable quote.

4 October 2026Read the guide

Survey equipment set up on a flat roof beside a small drone

Measured surveys4 min read

What happens during a measured building survey?

What is measured, how to prepare the property and what your existing drawing package should include.

3 October 2026Read the guide

Timber-clad rear extension with glazed doors and a roof lantern

Planning certificates3 min read

Do you need a lawful development certificate for an extension?

When a certificate is useful, the evidence to prepare and why changing the drawings needs another check.

2 October 2026Read the guide

Roof lantern, glazed doors and windows inside the completed Lutterworth extension.

Glazing & Building Regulations4 min read

How much glazing can an extension have?

What the 25% rule actually counts, a worked example, and the options when you want more glass.

30 September 2026Read the guide

The completed timber-clad rear extension in Lutterworth, viewed from the garden.

Planning & extensions4 min read

Does your house extension need a planning application?

Permitted development, prior approval or a householder application? Start with the route that fits your home and your proposed extension.

29 September 2026Read the guide

The interior of the completed Lutterworth extension, with a roof lantern and garden-facing glazing.

Building Regulations3 min read

Planning permission and Building Regulations: do you need both?

What each process covers, why planning drawings are only part of the job, and what to organise before a builder starts.