Planning Permissions

tiggerkid

Hi all,

We are finally ready to complete on our purchase. I think I have a couple of last queries and we are almost there...

One more question for all the wonderful experienced folks here. Our vendor has applied and obtained a planning permission to build a garage for the property, and we have a copy of the permission, which was obtained from the council.

The council also has plans for the garage, for which the permission was granted. However, both the vendors and the council are refusing to supply these because apparently they have architect's copyright attached to them and cannot be provided to anyone without the architect's say so.

As you will also understand, without the plans, the planning permission is effectively worthless. If anyone has been in this sort of situation before, could you please advise what the charges to obtain copies from the architect are likely to be?

Many thanks as ever.

QTPie

Didn't the vendor pay for the plans to be produced. Therefore doesn't he own the designs and drawings? Have you exchanged contracts yet? I would have insisted on copies of the plans before exchange.

Have you tried talking to the architect? Asking what their position is on this?

PaulCooper

You should be able to view the plans on your local coucil's website. Make sure the PP hasn't expired, I can't rememnber if it lasts for 3 or 5 years before you have to start work. If you don't commence work within that period, the PP expires & you have to reapply.
The plans for PP are usually different (less detailed) than plans required by a buiilder to build the garage
If you're happy with garage as the PP, go to a local builder and ask them to quote, they might ask for detailed drawings that might already exist, or you might have to pay an architect to produce some (could be same architect that did the plans for the PP) or the builder might want to do his own details plans
Paul

Doozergirl

Sounds a bit strange. If the drawings aren't online (in which case you print off copies), then you can go down, view the file and have documents photocopied. I've definitely done this in the past. the documents are in the public domain and anyone can view plans.

Any builder worth their salt could build a garage without detailed plans.

tiggerkid

We have had sight of the planning permission itself. We even have a copy. No plans attached. The council and the vendors insist they can't provide those due to copyright attached to them.

patman99

Visit your local Council's website & go to the 'Planning' section. You should be able to search by planning permission number. You will then find all the drawings that were submitted filed for you to view.
All you need to know is where on the plot the garage is to go and whether it is single or double and whether it is flat or pitched roofed. Any builder will be able to quickly work out how to build the thing. It isn't a complex job like building a house. It is just 3 walls, a roof and a door.

tiggerkid

patman99 wrote: »

Visit your local Council's website & go to the 'Planning' section. You should be able to search by planning permission number. You will then find all the drawings that were submitted filed for you to view.
All you need to know is where on the plot the garage is to go and whether it is single or double and whether it is flat or pitched roofed. Any builder will be able to quickly work out how to build the thing. It isn't a complex job like building a house. It is just 3 walls, a roof and a door.

Thank you for your response. We have been to the Planning Site of our council. There is only a planning permission. No copies of plans.