HC Deb 14 February 1996 vol 271 c623W
Mr. Chris Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what restrictions are placed on the height of a single storey building by(a) planning legislation and (b) planning policy guidance. [14618]

Sir Paul Beresford

The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 places a restriction of 4 m in the case of a building with a ridged roof and 3 m in any other case on the height of a building which can be erected within the curtilage of a dwelling house without the need for a planning application. The Department's booklet "Planning—A Guide for Householders" encourages good design and consideration for neighbours in the exercise of such residential permitted development rights.

Where planning permission is required for a single storey building, its appearance and relationship to its surroundings are material considerations. No specific guidance is given on the height of single storey buildings, but general guidance on design considerations is given in annexe A of planning policy guidance note 1 "General Policy and Principles".