Advice on extension without planning

lb364

I know things like this have been asked before but can't find anything about the same situation...

I'm looking at buying a house with a back and side extension. The side extension has planning permission and the back extension is shown on the plans, back in the 70's. But the back extension has no plans, that I can find.

I had a full structural survey and it kind of skirted around the issue, stating that we needed to find out if it had planning but nothing about whether it's structurally sound. There have been holes made in the original walls to gain access to the extension.

So with this in mind, is there any other way of finding out if planning was obtained or who did the work?

Is it possible that the extension was added when the house was built, back in the 50's at the buyer's request?

If we buy the house, what are the implications? Will that part still be covered on our buildings insurance?

Thanks in advance

Fire_Fox

Loads of threads on this if you use the advanced search function. Ask the vendor about planning and building regs.

lb364

Thanks but as I said, I couldn't find one where the extension is shown on council approved plans for a later extension?

The vendor said the extension was built when they moved in and that's all they know.

hazedaze

From a architect I was talking to about something else, plans that include additions that have not been previously approved by the council are not then automatically approved if they approve other plan that have the non-approved items drawn on, but not described/submitted as the change. The only thing that is approved when plans are submitted are those items that are declared as being put forward for approval.

lb364

hazedaze wrote: »

From a architect I was talking to about something else, plans that include additions that have not been previously approved by the council are not then automatically approved if they approve other plan that have the non-approved items drawn on, but not described/submitted as the change. The only thing that is approved when plans are submitted are those items that are declared as being put forward for approval.

Would those plans not then be checked against the council's version to see if any work had been done without PP? I'm just curious as to why you would build without PP and then ask for it on something else...unless it was a different owner at the time?