Extending an extension

Onawingandaprayer

We're having a bit of a planning dispute with our neighbours, in our small terraced run of cottages. In essence, they want to extend an existing extension, which we feel is over-developing the site, to put it mildly.

Are there any hard and fast legal rules regarding extending an extension?

Hope this is the correct forum for this!

LandyAndy

I think you're on the right board but you'll probably need to give a bit more detailed explanation if you are to get any serious assistance.

Richard_Webster

No hard and fast rules, it will depend on the planning policies for your area.

roger196

Onawingandaprayer wrote: »

We're having a bit of a planning dispute with our neighbours, in our small terraced run of cottages. In essence, they want to extend an existing extension, which we feel is over-developing the site, to put it mildly.

Are there any hard and fast legal rules regarding extending an extension?

Make an appointment with your local council's planning department to see one of their officers. Say you are asking for advice and guideance. Before you go, you need to know the size of the plot, the size of the original house and of the extension. You may be able to estimate these from your own property. Have a look at your council's own website first and www.planningportal.gov.uk . If at all possible avoid falling out with neighbours.

Doozergirl

The planning portal will help you with what can be built under permitted development as there are strict rules about that. Are your neighbours applying for planning permission or do they think what they want to do falls under permitted development?

If they are applying for planning then there are seven or eight reasons why planning permission may not be given. 'overdevelopment' in itself isn't exactly a reason, you'd need to state why when you state your objections, which you can do formally. Those specific reasons are important - you don't want to waffle on any objection.

We've had some in the past suggesting that we retarmac the street to compensate for a loft conversion. Or that if we wanted a bigger house we should have bought one. Quite funny but not really a reason for rejecting a planning application - it's important to stick to points which planning will listen to.

Ultimately there is no reason why this dispute should be directly with your neighbours, it should be done through proper channels.

Are you going to furnish us with the details on what they are planning to do!?

Onawingandaprayer

They have applied for planning to build a single-storey rear extension (to extend an existing extension, which mirrors ours, and in fact most of the other cottages in the terrace.)

They want to butt their extension right up against the side of ours and are aware that we will need to agree to this under the Party Wall Act. It will mean we won't be able to maintain that side of our house, or get at our pipe-work etc.

We have complained about this formally to the planning dept, but the idea of their extending an extension has only just been mentioned to us by someone else.

BTW, the extension is only being done prior to their selling the property.

Doozergirl

Onawingandaprayer wrote: »

They have applied for planning to build a single-storey rear extension (to extend an existing extension, which mirrors ours, and in fact most of the other cottages in the terrace.)

They want to butt their extension right up against the side of ours and are aware that we will need to agree to this under the Party Wall Act. It will mean we won't be able to maintain that side of our house, or get at our pipe-work etc.

We have complained about this formally to the planning dept, but the idea of their extending an extension has only just been mentioned to us by someone else.

BTW, the extension is only being done prior to their selling the property.

I don't understand - in order to extend they need to build against the side of your house? Where is the overdevelopment taking place if your house already extends enough past theirs in order for them to attach an extension to it?

You can't not build on your own land just because the neighbours want to get to it sometimes - it's their land after all and they will alwyas have to allow you access to ithe side of your house. What sort of pipework do you have on that side - is it within your own boundary or overhanging theirs?

The party wall agreement covers the work that takes place; not whether you actually agree to it happening. That is purely planning's remit.

Doozergirl

Ok I've jsut worked out that you are asking about whether you can actually extend an extension! Yes you can. With the relevant permissions. There is nothing that says you cannot extend an already extended house; there is no loophole there for you.

lincroft1710

I think you will be very lucky if pp is refused. I've "extended an extension" - no problem whatsoever with pp. The extension would have to be very intrusive, unsympathetic, below standard, not in keeping etc before pp would be refused.

Onawingandaprayer

thanks for that, I suppose. Sigh.

I thought there might have been rules about the percentage added to a house. ie if the first extension added another x% to the house, then the extension on the extension would take it to x+y%, which is past a certain percentage limit. (Which in a small terraced run of cottages like ours would seem very pertinent.)

I guess I was wrong.

Thanks all for your help. Can't wait!

lincroft1710

I've known houses doubled in size by extensions - no "percentage" rules exist!