planning permission needed to move bathroom?

keystone

riverboat2001 wrote: »

My builders are ready to start work , and i really don't want to mess them around.

and you expect them to proceed with a job that they will know requires BRs without getting them? Why aren't they taking care of that aspect anyway instead of you worrying your head about it?

Cheers

riverboat2001

doningtonphil wrote: »

The 'Building Regulations- Explanatory Booklet' available as a download form my local council website (though currently out of print so may not be current) states that Building Control need to be involved if Building Works are to be undertaken

BUILDING REGULATIONS?

3.1 ‘Building Work’ is defined in Regulation 3 of the Building
Regulations. The definition means that the following types of
project amount to ‘Building Work’:

l

the erection or extension of a building;

l

the installation or extension of a service or fitting which is
controlled under the regulations;

l

an alteration project involving work which will temporarily
or permanently affect the ongoing compliance of the building,
service or fitting with the requirements relating to structure,
fire, or access to and use of buildings;

l

the insertion of insulation into a cavity wall; and

l

the underpinning of the foundations of a building.
3.2 If whatever work your project involves amounts to ‘Building
Work’ then it must comply with the Building Regulations. This
means that if you want to:

l

put up a new building, or extend or alter an existing one
(e.g. by converting a loft space into living space);

l

or provide services and/or fittings in a building such as:
– washing and sanitary facilities (e.g. WCs, showers,
washbasins, kitchen sinks, etc.),
– hot water cylinders,
– foul water and rainwater drainage,
– replacement windows, and

– fuel burning appliances of any type;

The last sentence is also a bit confusing, as i'm having central heating installed, and as gas is a fuel, then it sounds like i need building control approval for that too!

keystone

riverboat2001 wrote: »

My two brothers, both builders for the last 25 years!

and how will they do that? Either by being members of a competant persons scheme allowing self-certification of by involving building control. Simples.

But as i said i will attempt to get in touch with the relevant authorities.

Still don't understand why you are doing it and why you aren't discussing it with your brothers rather than on here. If they've been in the building trade for 25 years they know perfectly well what they can and cannot do.

But as to my comment ealier, ten days to answer an email, doesn't bode well for how long to actually do a site visit though does it?

Oh good lord its a council department !!!!!!. Haven't you got a telephone?

Cheers

keystone

riverboat2001 wrote: »

and as gas is a fuel, then it sounds like i need building control approval for that too!

Thats why you employ an RGI - he can self certify because he is a member of a competant persons scheme! Simples.

Cheers

riverboat2001

keystone wrote: »

and how will they do that? Either by being members of a competant persons scheme allowing self-certification of by involving building control. Simples.

Still don't understand why you are doing it and why you aren't discussing it with your brothers rather than on here. If they've been in the building trade for 25 years they know perfectly well what they can and cannot do.

Oh good lord its a council department !!!!!!. Haven't you got a telephone?

Cheers

To be honest, yes i could get my brothers to do it, but they live over a hundred miles away from me, and are doing the job at family rates, so rather than drag them all the way down here to look at the job, and then fill out all the paperwork, i thought i should be able to manage it myself!

Also, i do prefer to conduct matters via email as then i have a record of who said what and when!

But that aside, i'm currently on night shift, and not getting into bed until 8am, and the council don't seem to answer their phones after about 3pm, and i don't know about you, but i need at least an hour to wake up before holding a sensible conversation with anyone!
But yes, on Tuesday i will get up early and speak to them!

partan

youll need to check with someone who KNOWS tho, different rules in different countries. I had a architect doing drawings for me, and he was able to advise about what i could and couldnt do

riverboat2001 wrote: »

Hmmm,
That's a bit confusing, as that's similar to what i want to do.

The downstairs bathroom has been made (years ago) by creating a partition off the kitchen (but accessed by a door in the hallway)

I want to remove the partition and open up the kitchen, then shift the bathroom upstairs and move the remaining downstairs loo via 180degrees and have it accessed via a utlility room (which is down a step and so not disabled friendly)

The area i've bought in has a really high percentage of downstairs bathrooms, in the houses i viewed about 80% of them have moved the bathroom upstairs and left downstairs loo's only, what you've been told sounds like they are all "illegal" ......!

riverboat2001

Right, just an update in case someone else is going through this.

I spoke to the Building Control department, the officer for my area is on leave at the moment, but another one i spoke to was very helpful. He said moving the bathroom shouldn't prove to be an issue in any way.
I could "take a chance that my builders get the RSJ size right, but if not it would have to be removed and started again"
OR
I could employ someone to calculate the size of RSJ needed and then send that to the council and get the builders to work to that. This would require a Building Notice (not a full plans application) Once they recieve my form the work can start 48hrs later.

A structural engineer (might have been a surveyor, can't remember) came out today and said strictly speaking the wall isn't load bearing, so he is recommending a 8mm RSJ.
Also he pointed out that a wall further back in the property is only supported by wooded joists, he said that this method wouldn't be allowed now, but in older properties you don't have to change them, however as the whole area will be exposed then we should have some extra joists put in to strenthgen the support.
He charged me £175, and will deal with any queries from the council, all inclusive.
The Building Control costs are £200 i think.