Home improvement projects
Making improvements to your home?
Read our planning and building guidance about all kinds of home improvement projects, from smaller changes such as replacement windows or decking, to adding a garden office or embarking on a two-storey extension. Our common projects advice and interactive house can help to steer and support your project, from the research and planning application stages, through to completion.
Planning your project
How to get your project started - use our tools to help create an estimate, calculate your planning consultancy fees, finance your project, find a local tradesperson and make an application for planning permission online.
Planning Guidance Service (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/planning-guidance-service)
Planning Guidance ServiceCommon projects advice (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects)
Common projects adviceProject advice (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/home-improvement/project-advice)
Project adviceGetting started (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/home-improvement/getting-started)
Getting startedMake an application (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/applications)
Make an applicationPlanning consultancy calculator (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/home-improvement/planning-consultancy-calculator)
Planning consultancy calculator
Building your project
Find out about your responsibilities and consider what you need to do before you start the build phase of your project. You can also learn about how a building contract can provide peace of mind and in what situation you may need a lawful development certificate.
What do to next (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/what-to-do-next)
What do to nextYour responsibilities (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/responsibilities)
Your responsibilitiesFind a professional (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/planning/planning-applications/find-a-trade-professional)
Find a professionalBuilding contracts (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/financing-your-project/building-contracts)
Building contracts
Completing your project
Read our guidance about improving the interior and exterior of your home, how building regulations may apply to the changes you make and retrospective consents.
Improving your home (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/home-improvement/improving-your-home)
Improving your homeProject completion (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/home-improvement/project-completion)
Project completionSuccess and results (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/home-improvement/success-and-results)
Success and resultsInteractive house
Explore our interactive detached and terrace houses, shop or flat to find out information on many common householder projects, including garage and basement conversions, new outbuildings and extensions.
Visit our Interactive House (https://interactive.planningportal.co.uk/)
Visit our Interactive HouseMini guides
Our mini guides provide visual clarification of the permitted development rules for specific projects.
Access the individual mini guides via the bottom menu of the interactive house.
Browse the mini guides (https://interactive.planningportal.co.uk/mini-guide/conservatory/0)
Browse the mini guides