Can an address tell me exactly what I can build?

No. An address is a useful starting point for reviewing the property and nearby approved projects, but a proposal still needs project-specific planning, legal and technical checks.

Do I always need planning permission?

Not always. Some work may fall within permitted development, but limits, local restrictions and the design all matter. Check the exact proposal before relying on an assumption.

What should I prepare before exploring an extension?

Start with the address, a clear brief, photos or drawings if available, and a sense of how you want to use the space.

UK home-improvement starting point

What can I build at my address?

Short answer: use your address to begin with the property itself and nearby approved projects, then turn your brief into a concept and a priced takeoff before treating any route as settled.

Every home, council area and brief is different. The useful question is not simply “can I build?”, but which options are worth investigating first.

Explore my address

A clearer route than guessing from a postcode

1. Start with the site

Look at the existing house, garden, access, outlook and the way your household needs to live.

2. Learn from the street

Nearby approved projects can help frame the scale and type of ideas worth testing.

3. Test the brief

Bring the idea together as a concept with a practical scope, rather than a detached cost range.

What to have ready

Your full address and the parts of the home you want to change.
A simple brief: rooms, light, storage, accessibility or future needs.
Any existing plans, measurements or photographs you already have.
A realistic view of timing and the decisions you still need to make.

Planning note: a concept is not planning permission, building-regulations approval or legal advice. Confirm the exact proposal with the appropriate professionals and authority before starting work.

Frequently asked questions

Can I rely on a neighbour’s approved extension?

No. It is useful evidence of local context, but the property, dates, conditions and proposal may differ.

Can I explore ideas before appointing a designer?

Yes. A clear brief and a concept can make early conversations more focused. Detailed work should follow when the route is right.

Will this give me a final construction price?

It can help you move from a broad idea to a priced takeoff, but final costs depend on the eventual scope, specification, site and procurement route.

Start with the address you already know

See a practical route from property and precedent to a concept you can discuss with confidence.

What can I build?