Government eases planning restrictions on homeowners

Posted under General by Jermaine

Thousand of homeowners in the UK are set to benefit from government’s relaxation on planning restrictions pertaining to loft conversion and extensions.

The new measure would come into force from October 2008. It will help those families that cannot afford shifting to other places for accommodating additional members in their existing homes.

The easing of restrictions would mean constructions of up to two storeys, not extending beyond ten feet from back of the property, without consent of planning from local authority.

No planning permission will be required for a loft conversion, as long as it does not extend beyond 8 inches from the eaves and is well within 50 cubic metres in size.

Statistics indicate that 11% of families shift house each year, while 50% of those change properties within 5 years for the sake of more space. The mortgage squeeze and collapse of housing market has made it difficult for many families to sell homes for spacious accommodation.

The government‘s relaxation of restrictions would remove the red tape associated with procedures for getting permission.

Government also exempted payment of council tax for the addition of extra rooms.

Easing of planning restrictions would result in the withdrawal of 80,000 planning applications from the system and savings of nearly £40 million.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors welcomed government’s new regulation.

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