Moneysaving on planing permission

QQQ

I am going to apply for planning permission, so I have to pay to an architect who will draw me necessary paperwork. But at the same time my neighbour has already successfully applied for similar extension. Can I just download my neighbour's paperwork from council website, change the door number, flip it mirror-wise (since our properties are) and send it to council? Did anyone do this? Or is this downloadable paperwork is only a tip of an iceberg?

kmmr

Well, there is the minor issue of copyright.

Cash-Cow_3

You don't necessarily need an architect but someone who can draw building drawings on a technical basis. Builders themselves can produce planning application drawings which will save you a few quid.

jc808

If there are any problems with the drawings, who will you take them up with?

System

i'm pretty sure that whoever produced your neighbours drawing will be a wee bit annoyed at that one, why not find out who that is and ask them to do it at a reduced rate?
also money saving at this early stage might not actually be money saving over the course of the build

googler

There used to be a notice on my council's planning portal, saying that you could view apps for comparison, comment and research, but that they were copyright and couldn't/shouldn't be copied....

smcqis

copy it but just change couple minor details by tipp ex and photcopy them again, hey presto

QQQ

kmmr wrote: »

Well, there is the minor issue of copyright.

This is what my question is about. I need to make sure I am not braking any law.

System

Can you copyright/trademark buildings? What if the architect is not dead - can you photograph the buildings? Can you design another building to look like another building?
Answer
Architects drawings are copyright. The building itself is not, so you can photograph it. If you used the architect's own drawings and amended them, then that is infringement. If you started from scratch but deliberately chose to mimic a design, then you are probably okay. It would be advisable to consult a copyright lawyer at this point in time!

from http://www.ahds.ac.uk/copyrightfaq.htm#faq38

clearly using the drawings is a copyright infringement

iamcornholio

Where does the line between saving a few £'s and theft lie?

You certainly wont be able to steal the building control drawings