Do You Need Planning Permission for a New Roof in Godalming?

When You Do Not Need Permission

A like-for-like roof replacement — same materials, same appearance — is normally permitted development and does not require a planning application. This covers the majority of re-roofs across Godalming's residential areas.

The Godalming Conservation Area

The Godalming Town Centre Conservation Area covers the High Street, Church Street, Mint Street, Mill Lane and surrounding historic streets. Properties within this area may need planning consent if you want to change the type, colour or profile of roof tiles. Waverley Borough Council's Conservation Officer should be consulted before work begins.

Listed Buildings

Godalming has 138 listed buildings, including the Grade I listed Church of St Peter and St Paul. Any alteration to the roof of a listed building — even replacing tiles with the same type — requires Listed Building Consent. This is a separate process from planning permission and carries its own timescales.

Velux Windows and Loft Conversions

Adding roof windows or altering the roof shape for a loft conversion may require planning permission, particularly in the Conservation Area. Velux windows on the rear elevation of non-listed properties are usually permitted development, but front-facing installations often need consent.

What We Advise

We check every property's planning status before quoting. If consent is needed, we advise on the process, recommend approved materials, and can handle the application on your behalf. This avoids delays and ensures your new roof complies from day one.

The Application Process If You Need Permission

If your roofing project requires planning permission, the process with Waverley Borough Council is straightforward but takes time. A standard householder application costs £206 and typically takes 8 weeks for a decision. Applications involving listed buildings require Listed Building Consent, which is a separate application (no fee) running in parallel. Pre-application advice is available from the council's planning team and costs £60-120 depending on the type of enquiry — we strongly recommend this for any work where the outcome is uncertain.

Your application should include: a completed application form, site location plan at 1:1250, existing and proposed elevations showing the roof change, a heritage statement (for Conservation Area and listed buildings), and photographs of the existing roof. We prepare all of these as part of our service for clients whose work requires consent, and our familiarity with the local planning team helps ensure applications are valid on first submission.

Common Mistakes That Cause Refusals

The most common reason for refusal in Godalming is proposing inappropriate materials — concrete tiles on a building that has always had clay, or machine-made clay on a listed building that requires handmade. The second most common is not consulting the Conservation Officer before submitting, which leads to applications being refused on grounds that could have been resolved informally. The third is underestimating the visual impact of dormer windows or roof alterations on the streetscape — what looks minor in plan can be dominant in elevation.

What Happens If You Do Work Without Permission

Unauthorised work on a listed building is a criminal offence that can result in prosecution and a requirement to reverse the work at your own expense. Unauthorised work within the Conservation Area is not criminal but can result in an enforcement notice requiring you to undo the changes. In both cases, the cost and disruption far exceed the cost of obtaining proper consent in the first place. If you are unsure whether your project needs consent, the safest approach is to ask — either the council or us.

What Sets Our Approach Apart

Every piece of roofing work we undertake in the Godalming area follows the same core principles: survey before quoting, specify materials in writing, fix the cause not the symptom, and guarantee the result. These sound obvious but they are routinely ignored by contractors focused on volume rather than quality. We limit the number of jobs we take on specifically so that every property gets the time and attention it needs. A rushed roof repair is a failed roof repair — and in the Wey Valley's demanding climate, cutting corners leads to callbacks faster than anywhere else.

Our team includes specialists in every discipline relevant to planning permission new roof: tile matching across every era of Godalming housing, lead dressing to Lead Sheet Association standards, lime mortar formulation for Bargate stone and other period masonry, flat roof membrane systems from both GRP and EPDM manufacturers, and mechanical ridge and hip systems for exposed locations. This breadth of in-house expertise means we handle every aspect of your job ourselves — no subcontractors, no passed-on responsibility, no conflicting guarantees.

Your Property Is an Investment — Protect It Properly

The average Godalming property is worth significantly more than the national average. A properly maintained roof protects that value. A neglected roof devalues it. Buyers and their surveyors notice roof condition immediately — it is one of the first things visible from the street and one of the most expensive items on a building survey. Whether you are planning to stay in your home for decades or considering selling within a few years, keeping the roof in excellent condition is one of the highest-return investments you can make in the property.

We offer free, no-obligation roof surveys that give you a clear picture of your roof's condition and remaining lifespan. Many of our customers use these surveys as part of their ongoing property maintenance planning — booking the work they need over a sensible timescale rather than waiting for an emergency. Call 01483 346 855 to book your survey. We typically attend within one week of your call and provide a written report within 24 hours of the inspection.