Afternoon all
Some good advice but you should always refer to the legislation rather than third party website. I am a Planning Enforcement Officer for a Local Planning Authority and can offer the following info.
Hard surfacing such as patios and drivewasy can be built at a domestic property and will benefit from permission by virtue of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) subject to conditions and limitations within the relevant class:
Class F – hard surfaces incidental to the enjoyment of a dwellinghouse
Permitted development
F. Development consisting of—
(a)the provision within the curtilage of a dwellinghouse of a hard surface for any purpose incidental to the enjoyment of the dwellinghouse as such; or
(b)the replacement in whole or in part of such a surface.
Development not permitted
F.1 Development is not permitted by Class F if permission to use the dwellinghouse as a dwellinghouse has been granted only by virtue of Class M, N, P or Q of Part 3 of this Schedule (changes of use).
Conditions
F.2 Development is permitted by Class F subject to the condition that where—
(a)the hard surface would be situated on land between a wall forming the principal elevation of the dwellinghouse and a highway, and
(b)the area of ground covered by the hard surface, or the area of hard surface replaced, would exceed 5 square metres,
either the hard surface is made of porous materials, or provision is made to direct run-off water from the hard surface to a permeable or porous area or surface within the curtilage of the dwellinghouse.
Outbuildings and containers can be erected at residential dwellings under the same legislation but a different class:
Class E – buildings etc incidental to the enjoyment of a dwellinghouse
Permitted development
E. The provision within the curtilage of the dwellinghouse of—
(a)any building or enclosure, swimming or other pool required for a purpose incidental to the enjoyment of the dwellinghouse as such, or the maintenance, improvement or other alteration of such a building or enclosure; or
(b)a container used for domestic heating purposes for the storage of oil or liquid petroleum gas.
Development not permitted
E.1 Development is not permitted by Class E if—
(a)permission to use the dwellinghouse as a dwellinghouse has been granted only by virtue of Class M, N, P or Q of Part 3 of this Schedule (changes of use);
(b)the total area of ground covered by buildings, enclosures and containers within the curtilage (other than the original dwellinghouse) would exceed 50% of the total area of the curtilage (excluding the ground area of the original dwellinghouse);
(c)any part of the building, enclosure, pool or container would be situated on land forward of a wall forming the principal elevation of the original dwellinghouse;
(d)the building would have more than a single storey;
(e)the height of the building, enclosure or container would exceed—
(i)4 metres in the case of a building with a dual-pitched roof,
(ii)2.5 metres in the case of a building, enclosure or container within 2 metres of the boundary of the curtilage of the dwellinghouse, or
(iii)3 metres in any other case;
(f)the height of the eaves of the building would exceed 2.5 metres;
(g)the building, enclosure, pool or container would be situated within the curtilage of a listed building;
(h)it would include the construction or provision of a verandah, balcony or raised platform;
(i)it relates to a dwelling or a microwave antenna; or
(j)the capacity of the container would exceed 3,500 litres.
E.2 In the case of any land within the curtilage of the dwellinghouse which is within—
(a)an area of outstanding natural beauty;
(b)the Broads;
(c)a National Park; or
(d)a World Heritage Site,
development is not permitted by Class E if the total area of ground covered by buildings, enclosures, pools and containers situated more than 20 metres from any wall of the dwellinghouse would exceed 10 square metres.
E.3 In the case of any land within the curtilage of the dwellinghouse which is article 2(3) land, development is not permitted by Class E if any part of the building, enclosure, pool or container would be situated on land between a wall forming a side elevation of the dwellinghouse and the boundary of the curtilage of the dwellinghouse.
Interpretation of Class E
E.4. For the purposes of Class E, “purpose incidental to the enjoyment of the dwellinghouse as such” includes the keeping of poultry, bees, pet animals, birds or other livestock for the domestic needs or personal enjoyment of the occupants of the dwellinghouse.
We (I am a Local Authority Planning Enforcement Officer) don't get many reports relating to decking. If one concludes that the decking cannot be consdiered a "hard surface" then you will be relying on Class E rather than F and you will be caught out on the 30cm raised platform.
Current legislation is from 2015 and has been amended a number of times, original legislation is here:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/596/contents/made
If you have doubts sumit plans to your local planning authority in an application known as a lawful development certificate. They will assess the plans against the legislation and if it complies you will be granted a lawful development certificate, if it is refused it will outline why it does not benefit from permission by virtue of the legislation.
Hope this helps
