Roof lights, Skylights Velux Windows Planning Permission

Rooflights, or skylights, have become a popular alternative to roof windows in situations where the cost, weight, etc. of roof windows is prohibitive. A skylight can actually admit up to 40% more light into a roof space than say a dormer window, but creates only minimal visual impact from outside and typically overlooks nothing but the sky. As such a skylight does not usually require planning permission although there a number of important caveats of which you should be aware.

Planning Permission 

In England and Wales, you are unlikely to require planning permission for rooflights or skylights unless:

• a proposed skylight installation occupies a large area of your roof beyond what is considered a “reasonable” size

• a skylight projects beyond the existing roof plane by more than 150mm (6″ approx.)

• you live in a Listed Building or in a designated Conservation Area

• a so-called “Article 4 Direction” or other planning condition is in place for the area in which you live.

If you live in a Listed building – that is a building afforded special status because of it significance architecturally, historically, or culturally – you will probably require Listed Building Consent from your local planning department.

It may be that your original proposal needs to modified sympathetically to suit the circumstances of your property; this could, for example, include the incorporation of faux Victorian or similar skylights.