Advice on Extending

jozvaldo

I have a 1930's semi which has a single storey flat roof extension of around 20 x 20 ft at the back and a dated dormer in the loft. We are considering extending up on the existing single storey and trying to replace / lose the dormer???

My question is who do I need to contact first, a surveyor, architect - as I would like to know a)if it is possible and b) what my optiions are?

Can anybody recommend somebody in the bedforshire area that could help - would I have to pay for the intial meeting??

Many thanks

marybishop

Contact the RICS on 0870 333 1600 and ask for contact details of Chartered Building Surveyors in your area. They should be willing to pay you a visit free of charge to discuss your ideas/requirements and give you an idea of what is/not feasible.

jozvaldo

Thanks for the reply Mary - I did contact them and they gave me three numbers - all of which said they didnt touch residential properties. Does anybody have any other suggestions?

Thanks

marybishop

I'm amazed! We're CBS's and this is what we do a lot of! If you go on to the RICS website and look under Find a Surveyor it might give you more options?

claireandella

Otherwise contact your Local Planning Department as the extension will almost certainly require planning permission and will require Building Regs. First check whether pp is likely to be forthcoming (don't rely on architect's advice on this) and then ask to see the files for any similar developments in the area. You can then decide which schemes are similar and were granted permission, take the architects details down and contact them.