What shall we do: stay or go? Upsticks or update is probably the most widely debated topic on the home front at this time of year. Traditionally the weeks when gardens are looking at their best before the start of the school holidays are peak season for the house market.

The decision of whether to move or improve may have been made easier for the kitchen cabinet by last week’s government announcement to upgrade the present policy of permitted development rights from temporary to permanent.

The regulations enable homeowners to build a single storey extension on the back of their house without having to go through the usual lengthy process of getting formal planning consent.

The scale of extensions allowed under these relaxed rules is dictated by the style of the property. If it’s terraced or a semi, the size of the additional accommodation can be up to six metres. If it’s a detached house, it can be up to eight metres.

However, if having seen the plans at the drawing board stage, there are objections from the immediate neighbours and their view is supported by the council, the local authority can block the homeowners’ automatic right under permitted development to add an extra room or two.

More than 110 extensions have been completed in England and Wales since the temporary rules were introduced in 2014.

Housing minister Kit Malthouse welcomed the decision to make it a permanent reform. He said: “These measures will help them extend their properties without battling through time-consuming red tape. Families can grow without being forced to move.”

His enthusiasm isn’t shared universally. Planners are concerned about the wider implications.

Cllr David Johncock, cabinet member for Planning and Sustainability at Wycombe District Council, summed up:“We positively support the LGA position that the impact of PD needs to be properly assessed as, right now, we are not convinced that it achieves the outcome that the government thinks.

Meanwhile the planning specialists at the Bedfordshire practice of Robinson. + Hall have circulated a statement to clients with a list of the reforms to permitted development rights.

“With these permitted development changes comes greater opportunity,” say the agency team in the planning department. “We can provide advice on how you might be able to benefit.”