Planning permission, building & price guide question

Swafe

Hi guys, I need someone who knows the law to answer me a question

A place has come up for sale locally and its basically a brick shell, it was used as a workshop - planning permission has been granted and work has begun - windows in the roof have been installed, anyway, from the listing it says this

'Although the original planning permission expired in April 2012, it is believed via enquiries of the local District Council, that the planning permission will remain current given that the conversion has been commenced on a basic level and now requires completion'

is this a rule? or could it be the case that planning permission could now be refused as it hasnt been used? if i was to place an offer it would be on the condition that planning permission can be verified to be kosher still from the council, is there anything else i would need to do?

my third and final question is, the place is small - would only really make a studio flat but its in a nice area so would be worth the investment, has anyone got any experience of how much such a project would cost? im estimating circa 15k, however i could be way out

any comments / thoughts would be appreciated, i currently live with my folks and would like a project as im in no rush to move out - and this is the cheapest way i can see to get on the property ladder, also i can style it how i wish

thanks!

phill99

In terms of planning, why not speak with your local planning department for a definitive answer. In terms of cost as you give such little information, I would suggest it could be in the range of £10 to £1 million.

Swafe

thats true i can contact them personally however without all the particulars im pretty sure they wont be able to give me a black and white answer

as for costs all it is is a brick skeleton, the size is 24 foot by 15 foot, so reasonably sized, i reckon it would be 2 rooms, a large living room/bedroom/kitchen area and a seperate bathroom, i dont have expensive taste i would just want laminate flooring all over, but ive no idea what costs installing plumming/waterworks/gas/electric and all the associated plasterboard and insulation to get turn it from a workshop to a home

also is there some sort of additional cost after conversion, for example registering it as an address, etc?

im looking for someone who has experience and has done a similar thing themselves before, who can ideally give me a rough feel as im almost clueless, my dad is a brickie so he may have some pals who he can call favours on, but i imagine the majority ill have to cough up for

Yorkie1

You'll be able to find the original planning permission details on the council website.

I'd have thought that if you told them what work has been done they'd be able to give you an indicative answer in writing. If you don't ask you won't know - and we certainly can't give you a more definitive answer than you'll get from the council!

Swafe

ah yes... found it,... all looks kosher just whether its still valid

Fuzzyness

if a material start on site had been made to implement the planning permission as granted before the expiry of the permission then the permission will still be live, even if all the works have not been completed. this is dependent on whether there were any conditions on the planning permisison that needed satisfying before work started. if there you will need to check that these were discharged. if they were and work started before three years from the date of the permission you're fine. if not, your permission will have lapsed and you'll need to apply for a new one.

if you're worried ask a planning officer to come out and view the works that have been carried out and get him to confirm in writing that the permission has been implemented and therefore the works are able to be completed at your leisure.