Build extension or sell with groundwork done

mr_green_3

I am in the process of building an extension which I must commence within four weeks or else I lose the planning permission. Work starts next week to do the groundwork, drains etc up to what the builder calls the slab. When this is done I therefore cannot lose permission. We were thinking of selling but We were wondering if it is best to complete the build or just leave it as a slab and let the new owners decide on the interior layout etc. Has anybody been in a similar situation.???

Doozergirl

People won't want to buy a house with a concrete slab at the back. Builders are also loathe to take on anyone else's finished work.

You either re-apply for the PP or you do the work yourself. Please do not start the work without the intention of finishing it. You will affect the saleability of the house quite dramatically.

mr.broderick

Doozergirl wrote: »

People won't want to buy a house with a concrete slab at the back. Builders are also loathe to take on anyone else's finished work.

You either re-apply for the PP or you do the work yourself. Please do not start the work without the intention of finishing it. You will affect the saleability of the house quite dramatically.

prove it..

Doozergirl

I don't need to prove it. Everyone knows the sun shines out of my behind

wecanhelpu

Doozergirl wrote: »

Everyone knows the sun shines out of my behind

You talk out of it as well sometimes

mr_green_3

Thank you all, I cannot reapply for planning permission. I have been told by the chief planning officer that it would be refused under present regs etc.

Doozergirl

wecanhelpu wrote: »

You talk out of it as well sometimes

:shocked: Touché!

LOL!

Gold_Shogun

mr_green wrote: »

Thank you all, I cannot reapply for planning permission. I have been told by the chief planning officer that it would be refused under present regs etc.

In that case, my view is that it would definitely be worthwhile "making an official start" on the works approved by the PP ...

Unless the Govt. have changed the rules very recently, it shouldn't be necessary to build right up to "base slab" level, as the regulations used to (& probably still do) state that "works must be commenced prior to the expiry of the Planning Permission Grant".

... Therefore, you could perhaps do the bare minimum necessary below-ground work (such as strip-trench or commencement of partial Sewerage/Drainage pipework installation) in order to retain the PP Grant of Development rights ... Any potential purchaser then has the option of either continuing OR abandoning those works, which would give you the best sale-potential at minimal cost.

If the buyer wishes to "abandon", then they would simply need to replace the removed earth to reinstate the original garden.

mr_green_3

Thank you Gold Shogun for your advice. I think the minimum you do is expected to be a significant amount like you say, dig out the trenches and pour in concrete, that would secure the permission for all time. What I'm wondering is would it be best to go into debt and build the extension and therefore obtain a larger profit when I sell. I hat being in debt but if it means a higher profit then I'll do that.

Doozergirl

If you have a concrete figure for the extension and I fair idea of the increase in value, then of course, it's worth considering. The question is how much debt for how much gain...

pboae

We had permission that was due to expire for a basement conversion in our old flat. We did the bare minimum (i.e. pulled down a plaster board wall and dig out one bag of rubble) then stopped. We called in the guy from the council who had to confirm the work was started. He came round, saw what we had done, and we told him we had to stop and do a drain survey (which was true, although irrelevant). He accepted the work was started.

We then poured the rubble back through the hole, stuck up some new board and then we sold the flat with the permission intact.

'Commenced' is a very vague term indeed, but it doesn't require as much as you might think. Dig a trench, maybe expose the drains and then get it signed as started, then you can stop again.