Help - council hsg refused permission on extension on privately owned house

muskoka

I've Just purchased house - Probate (was originally ex-council back in the 80's). On my deeds it does state that I have to get Council housing permission to do anything to house (as well as normal planning/bldg control). emailed man at Council who deals with this & hes emailed me back refusing permission to build an extension & said they only consider conservatory's. Would be within permitted development

Can anyone give me any advise on this please? I dont know why hes said no- will phone tomorrow to find out more.

House is in a small banjo/cul de sac - on main road, which cul de sac is off of 4 houses down somebody has built a 3metre ground floor extension. Would that count as a precedent???

Any ideas please how I can challenge this? There are no rights of way - my back garden is unoverlooked - cant see what the problem is.

Hippychick

Sounds like you need covenant consent, as you've approached the council you probably won't be able to get an indemnity insurance policy once the structure has been built for a year or so which would have been the best option. Perhaps the person you e-mailed doesn't quite understand what you're asking for.

If the extension is permitted development then you won't need planning permission. You will probably need consent from the councils legal dept not the planning dept.

If I were you I would call the council legal team and ask a general q, not giving any info about the property or who you are and ask how you would obtain covenant consent for an extension.

muskoka

Your quite correct. It is a covenant on the deeds. I will speak to the Counci tomorrow. Thanks v.much
Do you know if precent could apply as neighbour 4 doors away has built an extension similar to what I want to build - though I realise their house may not have the same covenant applied?

patman99

I do believe you can have the covenant removed, but it is not cheap.

Yorkie1

Assuming your neighbour has a similar covenant, I'd have thought that was a pretty good reason for arguing against a blanket refusal. Also assuming, however, that your neighbour did seek permission rather than simply proceeding regardless...

muskoka

All resolved thanks so much everyone. In fact, phoned Council today to find out they thought it was still a Council house, hence their immediate refusal. Now they've identified its been a private home for 20 odd years, they've said fine go ahead, but they do need to approve the final plans purely to ensure I'm not trying to build over any right of way - which is fair enough. Phew - bit sigh of relief when I phoned them.

27col

So, another Council who are really on the ball. I despair of them sometimes.