RESIDENTS are being made aware of changes to planning laws that affect what they can build in and around their homes.

New regulations mean that enlargements, improvements and alterations to a house will only require planning permission if they, amongst other things, cover more than 50 per cent of the land surrounding a property, exceed the height of the existing property, extend beyond the rear wall of the original property by more than four metres for a detached house and three metres for any other, exceed four metres in height.

There are also changes to the guidelines for roof alterations and to hard surfaces such as driveways.

Where driveways are concerned, planning permission will now be required for any new or replacement hard surfacing greater than five square metres within front gardens.

Exceptions can be made if the new surface is made of porous material, or if the run-off water can travel through into the ground in a natural way.

This particular change is in response to recent concerns that surfaced front gardens contributed to last year’s floods.

The Government has estimated that these changes, which came into effect at the beginning of October, will result in a reduction of about 80,000 planning applications nationwide.

It is hoped to free up planning officers so they can concentrate on larger developments which have wider environmental consequences.

Wychavon District Council said residents wanting advice and guidance on all planning matters should call 01386 565565 or send an e-mail to planning@wychavon.gov.uk