Factors to consider when planning to extend a home

Residential dwellings, their environments and activities in and around the home are important contribution factors to the health and wellbeing of residents. When planning a project to extend a home, it is important to give consideration towards the impact of an extension on things like: • Design quality: Will your extension complement the host building? Is it of an appropriate scale and will it respect its location and enhance the wider setting? Does the extension deliver high quality design, using materials that fit in visually with the established character of the area? • Private amenity space: Will your extension lead to an overdevelopment of the site and impact on your opportunities to enjoy your property and be physically active by reducing the amount of private amenity space within the curtilage of your property? Will your extension result in insufficient space for bin storage? • Natural light: Will your extension be orientated and built in a way which maximises exposure to natural sunlight? Will the position and construction of the extension block light entering existing rooms in your property or cause overshadowing of a neighbouring property? • Flooding: Will the extended footprint of your property impact negatively on water drainage and increase the risk of flooding? Can rainwater be collected for re-use or can porous ground surfaces or sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) be incorporated into the design to reduce flood risk? • Crime reduction and safe environment: Will your extension help to deter crime by adopting crime prevention measures or incorporate security standards to create a safe environment? Have you considered the latest 'Secured by Design' guidance or sought advice and guidance from your local Crime Prevention Officer? • Hazards: Will the construction of your extension present a hazard to health and safety? Could the building of your extension or construction activities cause damage to existing site features or impinge on the root protection area (RPA) of trees?