Extending your home is such a rewarding way to add space, comfort, and value but, as anyone who’s lived in Bath knows, it’s also a city with a very particular character. With its UNESCO World Heritage status, beautiful Georgian terraces, and historic streets, it’s a place where thoughtful design really matters.
At Temple+Temple, we love helping homeowners across Bath and Wiltshire create extensions and refurbishments that feel like a natural part of their home — whether that’s opening up a kitchen, adding a new wing, or designing a garden that finally works with the house.
Making Sense of Planning in Bath
Planning in Bath can feel a bit daunting. With so many Conservation Areas and Listed Buildings, plus rules that change depending on where you are, it helps to have someone on your side with experience.
We’re here to guide you from the very first sketches to the final approved drawings. That includes feasibility studies, heritage assessments, and all the paperwork for planning submissions and tender drawings — essentially, everything that lets you focus on the design without getting lost in bureaucracy.
Do You Need Planning Permission?
Not every extension can rely on Permitted Development rights in Bath. You’ll usually need planning permission if your property is:
- A Listed Building
- A flat or maisonette
- In a Conservation Area
- Covered by an Article 4 Direction
Even when PD applies, there are limits on height, depth, and materials. Rear extensions are generally capped at 3m for terraced/semi-detached homes, 4m for detached, and side extensions can only be single-storey and half the width of the original house. We can quickly let you know whether your project can go ahead under PD or if a Householder Planning Application is needed.
Listed Buildings & Conservation Areas
For the many Grade II and II* homes in Bath, any change — even a new window or internal alteration — usually requires Listed Building Consent. In Conservation Areas, planners are particularly interested in:
- Extensions that feel subtle and subservient to the original home
- High-quality materials like Bath stone, lime render, or zinc
- Details that respect and enhance the street or neighbourhood
We approach each project with care so that the new part of your home feels balanced, authentic, and timeless.
Garden and Landscape Design
A home extension is even better when your garden flows with it. We love designing gardens, terraces, and outdoor spaces that connect beautifully with the house and the surrounding landscape — whether that’s a contemporary courtyard in central Bath or a larger rural garden outside the city.
Our garden design service can cover:
- Concept layouts and planting schemes
- Outdoor structures, kitchens, and terraces
- Seamless indoor–outdoor transitions
- Planning, drainage, and lighting coordination
We work closely with trusted landscape contractors so that home and garden feel like one cohesive space, not two separate projects.
How We Work
Every project starts with a conversation. We like to understand how you live, what matters most to you, and what kind of space you really need. From there, we can help with:
- Feasibility and concept design
- Measured surveys and 3D visualisations
- Planning, heritage, and design statements
- Listed Building and planning applications
- Detailed construction drawings
Building Regulations
Even when planning permission isn’t required, extensions still need to meet Building Regulations for structure, insulation, drainage, fire safety, and electrics. We coordinate with approved inspectors to make sure everything is compliant and ready for construction.
Thinking About an Extension or Garden Project?
Whether it’s a kitchen extension, loft conversion, or a complete home-and-garden refresh, we can help you unlock your property’s potential. Every home has its own quirks and character, and our job is to make the new space feel like it’s always been part of your house.
Based in Bath, working across Bath and Wiltshire
We’d love to hear about your project and talk through what’s possible.