If you're looking to extend your home, there's some regulations you should think about before the project can get underway.
According to FC Extensions, data released by Google Trends predicts searches for the phrase 'planning permission' is set to rocket, as homeowners across the country start work on home improvements.
Planning permission will be required when making major alternations to an existing building or embarking on a new building project, and lapses after three years.
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An expert from FC Extensions said: "When someone requests planning permission, they are asking for authorisation to complete building work.
"A planning permission request may be granted outright, granted subject to specified conditions, or refused."
There are ways you can improve your chances of gaining permission, experts said, including approaching your local authority for pre-application advice to understand whether the project is practical and viable.
They added: "Speak to your neighbours. If you have a party wall this is even more important, as you will need their consent before embarking on a project.
"If you have the budget, consider hiring an architect. They can use their industry knowledge to give your application the best possible chance of approval."
When it comes to permission for extensions, the experts said it's "complicated". They added: "Each type of extension is subject to their own specific conditions. Side extensions, for example, must not exceed more than four metres in height, must only be up to half the width of the original house and must only be a single storey.
"Single storey rear extensions, meanwhile, can’t extend beyond the rear wall of the original house in the case of a detached house, or more than three metres for any other house."
The main piece of advice from FC Extensions is that "patience is key". Planning can usually take between eight and ten weeks to be granted.
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