Builders in Warnham

Warnham is our nearest village — two miles north of the yard at Broadbridge Heath. It has a conservation area covering the historic centre, and housing outside it that is not designated at all.

Inside the conservation area

Warnham Conservation Area is article 2(3) land, which removes several things people assume they have:

• Side extensions entirely
• Two-storey rear extensions entirely
• Permitted development loft conversions — Class B unavailable at any size
• Cladding
• The larger home extension scheme, so rear extension depths cap at 4 metres detached and 3 metres otherwise

Permission is also needed for altering windows and external doors, adding solar panels, satellite dishes, constructing an outbuilding, and changing any fence, wall or gate facing a highway.

The village centre has a good deal of older building stock, which brings its own practical considerations regardless of planning: solid walls rather than cavity, lime rather than cement mortar in places, and floor structures that need looking at before anything is loaded onto them. None of that is a problem; it just needs knowing about before the quotation rather than after.

Trees

The 75mm rule applies here as in every conservation area — any tree with a trunk over 75mm in diameter measured 1.5 metres above ground is protected, and six weeks’ written notice is required before any work to one, including in your own garden. Applications are free, and unauthorised work to a protected tree is a criminal offence.

Warnham has a lot of mature planting. This is worth checking before you design a foundation line, not only for the permission but because building near a mature tree on clay means deeper foundations.

Outside the conservation area

Full national permitted development rights — a rear extension of 4 metres detached or 3 metres otherwise with no application, loft conversions under Class B, side extensions up to half the width of the original house, and the larger home extension scheme available by prior approval.

Check the boundary

Village conservation area boundaries follow historic plots, so they rarely align with roads. Check your actual address on the council’s mapping tool before assuming either way.

Building regulations

Required whichever side of the line you are on, through Sussex Building Control — Horsham District Council and Crawley Borough Council’s shared service.