Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if his Department will make an assessment of the efficacy of the rules on permitted development in respect of loft conversions to ensure that such conversions which overlook other properties do not infringe on rights to privacy.

The householder permitted development rights seek to strike a balance between allowing individual freedom to carry out development while protecting the interests of neighbours. They are therefore subject to certain conditions and limitations to minimise their effects. For example, any loft extension cannot increase the volume of the original roof space by more than 50m3, or in the case of terraced houses by more than 40m3, and any window installed in a wall or roof slope forming a side elevation of a house must be obscure-glazed and non-opening. We have no plans to review the rights.