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O/T Building an extension over the driveway

11K views 8 replies 6 participants last post by  mdg  
#1 · (Edited)
I've put this in here for better regional exposure. Hope that's ok with the mods. :biggrin:

We're contemplating an extension over the driveway to double the size of our youngest's bedroom at the front of the house - see attached, my house is under the blue arrow. We only need the space for the bedroom, but if we maybe continued the extension back we'd create space at the top of the stairs, and the bathroom although my missus doesn't want to make any changes to our bathroom.

Other houses near us have extended to the side, but they've gone for 2 storey extensions with a driveway at the side as they have a wider plot. To keep access to the garage we'd need to build supports on the boundary. The fence is ours, and currently is just inside the boundary (F-I-L put it in the wrong place). At the moment I've got a couple of inches either side of the forester mirrors at the front of the house, the driveway gets gradually wider as you go back.

My question is how do I start the process? I guess make a drawing and talk to the council planners? I don't want to make a wrong move and unwittingly cause myself a setback.

I've been googling but not really found an answer, but I'm not sure how to phrase the question.

Any advice appreciated.

Cheers
 

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#2 ·
Your right. You will need a drawing etc. what may be the easiest way is to sniff about for a local architect who knows his stuff and has experience in what your after.

You can speak to your local planning department about it and get them to send you info. There is now the permissible build regs/act that let's you do so much before an application is required for some projects.

Don't be scared of a planning application but get someone with knowledge on your side. You only need a basic design spec and then go from there. Your local planning office should be able to recomend local suitable people.
 
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#3 ·
If you find a good architect to ddraw up the plans, they then usually (with a fee) will submit them to all relevant locations, I.e council, building regs, housing association etc.

P.S. Make sure you get some extra copies (or copy them yourself), and start getting your quotes from builders sooner rather than later, My sis is now turning her house from a 3 to a five bedroom with a 2 storey extansion, shes done everything she can got everything passed, Now can't find any builders to quote!! At least 5 different people have gone to view and done the usual "tut tut this aint gona be cheap blah blah" but shes got money sitting there waiting, and no builder to do the work!
 
#4 ·
Shame you live so far away - I learn this stuff 3 days a week and currently have a live 5 bed house project

As far as I can tell, you don't need full planning, just permitted development which is a good thing! a lot less hassle. See this website for permitted development Planning Portal - Permitted Development Rights It tells you what you can and can't do in a nice simple format, you can even apply for your own stuff through it if you feel brave, otherwise find a local architect who has done this stuff before like Pindie said. There are even some building companies who will take on the whole project including designing etc too

There are a couple conditions with Permitted Development, you can only have one crack at it, after that you have to go full planning from memory (Architect/Planning agent would confirm this) So basically if you think you might want to do something again in 5 years time etc try and get it done now it will save hassle
 
#5 ·
Having just built a big extension my advice is to first take accurate measurement and sketch out a rough diagram.

Next go and see your local planning department and see what they say, this will save a lot of hassle in the long term as they will tell you what THEY want from you as they can be the difference between you building it and not building it.

Next speak to your neighbours, I didnt as mine hasnt gone to the boundary and my neighbours are a bit strange. I didnt know how strange until I started building and they've been very disruptive and even called out building control saying i'd built an unsafe structure. I hadnt it just delayed things!

Next decide on a design for your room as if you make the roof as it is now then your building will overhand your neighbours so you might have to make a taller gable end and change the roof edging.

The get an architect to draw out plans as any builder will want plans to start work.

hope this helps
mike
 
#6 ·
Cheers for the advice - very helpful :Banane35:

On my way home yesterday I spotted a house in the next village that has done exactly what we are considering, pic attached. I like the gable end idea, although it may be an issue if the planners want to keep the hip.

I need to remember when I built my garage, as we talked about permitted development at that time. It was about 6 or 7 years ago, and there was something about it only being part of permitted development if it was within a certain distance from the house.

We took down the old garage which was just 3 foot from the back of the house, and built a new one at the bottom of the garden, about 60ft away. I only needed building regs due to the size, and the planners were mainly interested in the footings and the drains.

Is the garage likely impact on permitted development still?

Thanks
 

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