Planning Enforcements/Renovations Help

Deb19742004

Hi

Im wondering if anyone has any advice. We recently renovated our home with a dorma which doesnt need planning permission (we contacted the planning office and enquired on the website) and building control passed it BUT we have since found out our house is in breach of the regulations regarding the height of the dorma which is currently above the ridge tile. The builder we got to do the job has been doing these for 20 years and has done one for a friend with no problems. We are now left with a dorma that has to be removed and an enforcement letter is going to be sent out!! nitemare!! My question is - has anyone had this happen to them before? did they appeal it? Is it worth appealing it or will it be a waste of money? We are going to make an appointment with a solicitor as I feel the blame lies with the builder. I am going to be out of pocket getting the dorma removed after having paid for it to be built!

Any advice welcome!

Thanks

mofopants

Can you not apply now for retrospective planning permission? Sometimes you can do that.

Deb19742004

Thanks for your reply. I was advised to do this by a friend. We had an architect come out to the house and talk about drawing up plans etc. I have since been informed it will not pass and not to submit plans! This is a case for my local MLA I think. Im not the only home owner with this sort of extension in Northern Ireland.

Milko

Whilst I'm not an architect, planner or building control officer, I always understood you could NOT build above your ridgeline without planning permission. So whilst your dormer may not have needed planning, surely this would only have been providing it didn't breach any regs of which as you correctly pointed out, your builder should have known. I would certainly not spend any more money on a retrospective planning application as it's almost certainly not going to pass. Can you not have the dormer relocated at a lower level?

Deb19742004

No, I couldnt lower the height of it as then I wouldnt be able to stand up in it lol. Its 2 feet above the ridge tile. I have seen loads of these dotted throughout belfast above the ridge tile so I guess thats in my favour as I know they all dont have planning permission!;)

Deb19742004

Another question! Why did building control pass it if it was above the ridge tile??????!!!! They didnt ask to see any planning permission either.

DesG

Building control don't care what you build, just how well it is built

Cheers, Des.

planning_officer

Yep, planning permission and building regs are entirely different - some developments require one and not the other, some developments require both. A planning officer will not ask to see evidence of a building regs certificate and likewise a building control officer will have little knowledge of planning permission and in any event, that's not their job!