An outside spiral staircase can be an attractive and practical addition to your property, providing additional access into rooms as well as providing another exit point which could be useful for a myriad of reasons. Before purchasing and installing your outside spiral staircase it is important to ensure you have permissions if required already in place. Therefore many customers want to know if planning permission is required for outside spiral staircases.
Misterstep Exterior Zink Spiral Stair Kit
Outdoor Spiral Staircases Permissions: Install with Ease
Because an external spiral staircase is a relatively modest structure and will typically be located in a corner of a building, situated between the rear wall of the building and the rear extension, it is usually not necessary to obtain planning permission. This is because it will not have any material effect on the external appearance of the building.
However, there is no one size fits all rule for adding external structures such as staircases to a building. You may wish to consider the following:
Permissions for Outdoor Spiral Staircases: The Considerations
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Is the staircase to be located on the front of the house or on the sides but visible from the road?
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Will the staircase be constructed less than 1m from any boundary?
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Is the property located in a conservation area?
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Is the highest part of the staircase over 4m high?
If the answer to any of the above is yes, you may well require planning permission.
Spiral Staircase Permissions - Caution is the Best Option!
It is important to be aware that spiral staircases must comply with the 100mm sphere rule. This means that there can’t be any gaps greater than 99mm anywhere on the spiral staircase.
If in doubt, it is always best to check with your local planning authority before starting work on the installation.
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