Making alterations and improvements

(This page is for homeowners and shared-owners. If you rent your home go here.)

If your property was originally bought from the council or us (even if this was before you bought it), you’ll need to request our written permission to make alterations or improvements that will change the appearance or structure of your property (including changes you have made in the past). This includes things like:

Replacing doors and windows
Installing a driveway
Building or removing any walls
Adding extensions, porches and conservatories
Painting or cladding the outside walls

How to make your request

To make a request please fill this form and include the following:

Your full name, address, email address and phone number(s)
A description of what you want to do
Any plans, drawings and specifications

You must request permission before you start the work.

If you own your home, live in Letchworth and your change will require approval by the Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation (LGCHF), please download and complete an External Alterations – Application Form from the LGCHF website but send this to us first with the above information.

Costs

The charge for permission is £100 per request, unless it’s a large change (see below), in which case it’s £300.

If you make the request after carrying out the work, the charge is £250, or £450 for large changes.

Large changes

Includes things like:

Erecting any solid (brick or block) building like a new house, garage or outbuilding
Any type of extension – front, back, side, or porch
Loft conversion
Internal structural changes like removing or creating solid internal walls