Watford Borough Council

Adopted Documents We Assess Against

Development plan: Watford Local Plan 2021-2038 (adopted 17 October 2022)

Documents are re-checked against the council's own website weekly. A detected change flags "Policy Update Available" for human review — live assessment standards are never replaced automatically.

Watford Borough Council standards at a glance

4 numeric standards taken from Watford Borough Council's own adopted documents, each shown with the paragraph it comes from. Figures differ between councils — these are this one's.

Rear extension depth

up to 3m

On a Watford terrace the rule is 3 metres. They check it with a 45-degree line on both the plan and the elevation, and a 25-degree check as well. Watford Householder Guide DG1

up to 3.5m

On a Watford semi or detached house the rule is 3.5 metres, kept a metre off the boundary. Watford Householder Guide DG1

Side extension form

at least 1m

Keep a Watford two-storey side extension a metre off the boundary and no wider than a third of the house. Watford Householder Guide DG3 and DG4

Amenity neighbouring

at least 27.5m

Watford look for 27.5 metres between the backs of existing houses, which is more than most councils ask. They also want 10 metres from an upstairs habitable room to your rear boundary. Watford Householder Guide para 3.1.3(b)

Standards are what the council normally expects, not a guarantee. A scheme outside them can still be approved on its merits, and one inside them can still be refused for another reason.

Authored Policy Library

6 local policy checks, each citation-locked to the adopted document. National policy (NPPF, national space and daylight standards) applies alongside these.

Watford Local Plan 2021-2038

• Watford Local Plan Policies QD6.2 and QD6.4 — Design character (provisional citation) Watford will judge how well your proposal responds to your house and street under their QD6 design policies. Their Residential Design Guide explains what they expect for extensions and roof changes.
• Watford Local Plan Policy QD6.5 — Amenity neighbouring (provisional citation) Watford will look at the effect on your neighbours' light, outlook and privacy under Policy QD6.5. Show the relationship to their windows on your drawings.

Watford Householder Guide (Residential Design Guide SPD)

• Watford Householder Guide DG1 — Rear extension depth (2 checks) On a Watford terrace the rule is 3 metres. They check it with a 45-degree line on both the plan and the elevation, and a 25-degree check as well. On a Watford semi or detached house the rule is 3.5 metres, kept a metre off the boundary.
• Watford Householder Guide DG3 and DG4 — Side extension form Keep a Watford two-storey side extension a metre off the boundary and no wider than a third of the house.
• Watford Householder Guide para 3.1.3(b) — Amenity neighbouring Watford look for 27.5 metres between the backs of existing houses, which is more than most councils ask. They also want 10 metres from an upstairs habitable room to your rear boundary.