Adding roof windows to your roof can bring more light into the home and make the most from the loft space you are currently not using.
Under normal circumstances, you do not normally need to apply for planning permission to re-roof your home or to add roof windows or skylights. Most changes to the roof will come under what is termed as €˜permitted development', however there are a few exceptions.
What are the rules?
The rules and regulations (in terms of adding roof lights) state that:
€¢ The alteration should not be higher than the highest part of the roof
€¢ No alteration should be more than 150mm from the existing roof plane
€¢ Side windows which face other properties must have obscure glass, with any opening created in the side elevation at least 1.7m above the floor height.
For the most part all of the major manufacturers of roof windows follow these rules and so your project is unlikely to infringe if you are simply installing a pitched roof window. However, once you start complicating the project with something like a dormer window extension, you should consult an architect, designer or engineer as the change in weight will alter the roof loading and careful consideration should be taken to ensure that a major structural failure wouldn't be more likely after the work is completed.
If you are fitting solar panels to the roof, the rules do give some flexibility in terms of projection from the roof limits, but it's always worth confirming these before any installation is started. If the clearance is limited then solar panels that integrate more fully with the roof tiles, like the Redland SolarPV tiles which are designed to fit neatly onto an existing roof and are a much more seamless solution than simply bolting some panels over the top of the tiles.
If you have a flat or a maisonette, different rules will apply.
