Single-storey rear extension in Birmingham
Do you need planning permission for a single-storey rear extension in Birmingham? Not always. Nationally, a single-storey rear extension can go ahead without planning permission if it projects no more than 3 metres (4 metres for a detached house) and meets the other Class A limits; extensions of up to 6 or 8 metres use the neighbour consultation scheme instead.[1] Birmingham also has Article 4 areas that remove some of these rights, so check your address first.[2]
Local rules for a single-storey rear extension in Birmingham
- The national Planning Data platform records at least 11 Birmingham Article 4 areas removing Part 1 Class A rights, which cover house extensions.[2] The data is published voluntarily by councils and may be incomplete.[2]
- Applications that do not meet Birmingham's published householder validation checklist may be declared invalid.[3]
- A CIL form is required with full applications that create over 100 sqm of new floorspace, 100 sqm of change-of-use floorspace or a new dwelling.[3]
How Birmingham handles these applications
Birmingham granted 86.6% of the householder applications it decided in the year to 30 June 2026, which was 1,706 out of 1,971.[4] The government table does not split these by type of work. On our own calculation from the same table, about 83.1% of householder decisions were made within 8 weeks, leaving out applications decided on an agreed timescale.[4]
On our calculation from the Planning Data green-belt dataset, 13.9% of the Birmingham council area is Green Belt.[5] Check whether your address is inside it.
Average prices in August 2026 were £223,462 for a terraced home, £276,268 for a semi-detached one and £444,169 for a detached one.[6] Some owners weigh an extension against the cost of moving.
What it costs
A single-storey rear extension with Plandome costs a fixed £1,500 (VAT_WORDING_TBC); the council charges its application fee separately.
The proposal is free, so you can see what we would prepare before you decide.
Charges and fees that come from the council or from national rules:
- Pre-application advice on a householder scheme in Birmingham is £166.80 including VAT in writing, or £332.40 with a meeting (charges for 2026-27).[7]
- If a planning application is needed, the national statutory fee for alterations to a single dwelling is £548 (from 1 April 2026).[8]
What the work looks like
Questions people ask
Does Birmingham usually approve householder applications?
Birmingham granted 86.6% of the 1,971 householder decisions in the year to 30 June 2026, according to the government's PS2 table.[4] The figure covers all householder work and says nothing about a particular scheme.
Can a validation checklist make an application invalid in Birmingham?
Yes. The council publishes a householder validation checklist, and an application that does not meet it may be declared invalid.[3]
Is approval of a single-storey rear extension guaranteed?
No. The decision belongs to Birmingham, and nobody outside the council can promise a result.
Is this page advice about my own property?
No. It is general information, drawn from the sources listed below and last checked on 14 November 2026. Rules can depend on your address, so check it before you rely on it.