No approval needed to build conservatories and extension

But the rules on loft conversions will be substantially tightened, meaning many more will need planning permission.

The changes, outlined by ministers yesterday, come as thousands of families decide to enlarge their homes rather than face the soaring cost of moving.

Under the plans, an estimated 100,000 homeowners a year would be spared the

need to apply for official permission for a conservatory or an extension.

But the new rules could wreck the hopes of many families who want to make more room by building loft extensions.

These will be decided in future on their position on the roof rather than their size.

More than 30,000 people a year who currently do not need planning permission will need to make expensive and timeconsuming applications to their town hall and risk having their plans turned down.

Planning permission can cost up to £1,000 to obtain and applicants can wait between eight and 16 weeks to get the go-ahead.

The new laws also mean people in the suburbs would find it much harder to object when their neighbours begin large-scale construction in their back gardens.

Houseowners in most areas would no longer need permission to put up solar panels or wind turbines, however.

Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly, outlining the proposals in her White Paper, said: 'Our reforms will make town and country planning applications more efficient.

£We will make it easier for people to make minor improvements to their homes, such as building conservatories or small extensions, while continuing to protect the interests of neighbours and local communities."

But the upheaval in planning law was condemned by critics as a recipe for confusion.

Tory spokesman Michael Gove said: "The system should make it easier for everyone to extend or improve their property. These new rules are only going to mean further confusion in what is already a tangled process."

The reforms have been heavily influenced by a desire to cut the amount of time and money spent by local officials on planning applications.

Miss Kelly told MPs councils would be able to focus resources on "genuinely difficult cases".

But documents published alongside the White Paper make clear that these will involve more than 30,000 homeowners every year.

Miss Kelly's officials also say the benefits of the changes are likely to be felt more strongly in rural areas and particularly by owners of larger properties.

They admit that the additional restrictions on larger roof extensions are more likely to restrict development in urban areas.

Officials believe those affected could include large numbers of Asian families, who are the most likely to want to extend a city home to accommodate a growing family.