New rules† relating to permitted development came into force on October 1st.
Hard surfaces at the front of the house exceeding an area of 5 sq. m. will need planning permission unless some conditions for water permeability or run-off are met.
In our conservation area, developments on the front and side elevation require planning permission under the Article 4 Direction, however the new rules will affect what we can do at the rear. The rules no longer contain restrictions in terms of cubic content. Residents who have previously needed planning permission only because they have a public footpath behind their back garden will be pleased to see this problem has gone away in the new rules.
† S.I. 2008 No. 2362