Guides · 4 min
Corner plots
A house on a corner has two fronts. That changes the rules.
Two roads, tighter rights
On a corner, the side of the house can also face a road. Permitted development is much tighter towards a highway. A side extension that would be fine on a middle house can need permission, and a fence drops to the 1 metre rule along that road.
Councils also worry about sight lines for drivers, and about a blank wall close to the pavement.
What to design
Keep the extension away from the corner. Do not build out to the back edge of the pavement. Match the materials, because the side is on show.
Check with your council. Rules change, and every house is different.
Questions
Is the side of a corner house a rear?
No. If it faces a road, treat it as a front for the national rules, even if you think of it as the side.
Can I still extend at the back?
Often yes. The back that does not face the road is the easier place. Check both boundaries.
Check with your council. Rules change, and every house is different.