Can I Convert My Conservatory into an Extension Without Planning Permission?
Many homeowners have a conservatory that’s too cold in the winter, too hot in the summer, and ultimately under-used. A growing trend across Hertfordshire is to turn the conservatory into a proper extension - a warm, usable living space that feels like part of the main house.
The good news? In most cases, you can convert your conservatory into an extension without planning permission.
What will be required is Building Regulations approval — especially if you plan to remove the wall between your house and conservatory, or install a warm roof — and Wall Away Ltd handles that for you.
What Changes Count as a Conservatory-to-Extension Conversion?
Most homeowners choose to:
Replace the old glass/polycarbonate roof with a warm insulated roof
Remove the wall between the house and conservatory
Install RSJs (steel beams) for structural support
Improve insulation, heating, electrics, and lighting
These changes turn a conservatory into a fully usable extension, ideal for a kitchen diner, open-plan lounge, or family room.
Do You Need Planning Permission?
Not usually.
Because these upgrades generally fall under Permitted Development Rights, planning permission is often not required — as long as you are not increasing the footprint or changing the external height significantly.
Where many homeowners get confused is thinking that removing the internal wall triggers planning permission.
It doesn’t.
That falls under Building Regulations, which focus on:
Structural safety
Steel beam sizing (RSJ installation)
Insulation and energy performance
Fire safety and access
And that’s where Wall Away Ltd comes in.
What About Building Regulations?
When you remove the wall between your house and the conservatory, the structure becomes part of the main living space.
That means Building Control must approve the structural work.
Wall Away Ltd handles this entire process, including:
Liaising with building control
Ensuring insulation meets thermal requirements
You don’t need to find separate engineers, builders, electricians, and plumbers.
We do everything.
See how we support this conservatory integration process here.
Why Use a Warm Roof?
A warm roof instantly transforms the room from seasonal to usable all year round.
Benefits include:
Better insulation and lower energy bills
Noise reduction (especially from rain on polycarbonate roofs)
A more solid, "extension-feel" aesthetic
Higher comfort and property value
Most warm roof conversions are planning-permission-free.
Will Removing the Wall Make It Open-Plan?
Yes, and that’s the key transformation.
Removing the wall ties the space into the house, but it also introduces structural considerations. The wall you’re removing may be load-bearing, meaning a steel beam (RSJ) is needed to carry the load.
Wall Away specialises in:
Managing every trade needed for the conversion
You don’t need to coordinate multiple contractors — we handle the entire project from structural survey to sign-off.
Why Choose Wall Away Ltd?
Specialists in wall removals and RSJ installation
Full project management — all trades in-house
Building Regulations compliance handled for you
Structural engineer included where required
Hertfordshire’s trusted open-plan renovation team
Our process means your conservatory conversion is done safely, legally, and efficiently — without the stress of managing contractors.
Final Answer
Yes — you can convert your conservatory into an extension without planning permission. But because you’re altering the structure (warm roof + wall removal), Building Regulations approval is required, and Wall Away Ltd takes care of that for you.