Semi detached house - build a new house on the side?

casgup

Forgive me if I've posted under the wrong heading.

Hi all!

We have just moved into a three bed semi on a corner plot.

We were going to apply for planning permission to build a two story side extension and a single out the back. This would make the property 4 bed, 2 bath.

Since speaking to architects etc, we've had a bit of a brain wave. Could we potentially apply for permission to build a two bed house on the land on the side? Sell both and then move to our 'dream house'.

Wondering if anyone had any experience/advice/stories? Are we mad?!!!!

RAS

Depends very very much what the access is like and how deep the plot is.

Councils rarely allow building in front of the "building line", which will be dictated by how close the houses on the side road are to the pavement.

Then they will look for whether you can get a house and garden in the remaining depth of the plot. You might be able to team up with next door and gain extra depth.

I did something similar on a plot 300x30. Teamed up with next door and sold off the bottom 120 x 60 very much as had been done over the road. However this was for a pair of houses.

What we were paid was ridiculous.

pleasedelete

It would substantially devalue your house as it would become mid terrace and your neighbours which would become end terrace.

Your mortgage company would have to agree- tricky unless you have a lot of equity.. You probably wouldn't get planning as it sounds like over development (what would parking, drive, garden be like?) and much less likely if your neighbour complains.

It was done near us recently- but both houses ended up with a decent drives and gardens and they were a terrace to begin with- not semis.

If it is a newish estate build then it may well not be allowed under developer covenants etc

Call the council- they will advise you in principle free of charge. Call your mortgage company and ask if they allow a plot to be spilt- what would a mid terrace with a smaller garden be worth as opposed to a semi with a larger garden?

casgup

Thank you both for your replies.
As I am a complete ameture, I hadn't even thought about having to speak to my mortgage company. I had automatically assumed that we bought for 340 and if we divided plot, we could make 340, I am sure more.

It would be set back from the culdesac and would
Not over look anyone's house as it's on an angle.

I'll definitely call the council and see what they say.

jkpd

Speak to a planing consultant, will cost you a few hundred quid. Local planners will often say no, but that doesn't mean you can't !!

phill99

You could apply for permission to build a two bedroomed house. Whether you get it or not is a completely different thing.

Strapped

In general planners frown on this because of the terracing effect. But it depends on individual circumstances so no-one on here will be able to tell you definitively.

AdrianC

casgup wrote: »

I had automatically assumed that we bought for 340 and if we divided plot, we could make 340, I am sure more.

Ooookay.

Firstly, would you have paid the same price for this house if it was a mid-terrace with half the garden? No, you wouldn't. You'd have paid less. So you've forgotten to take that devaluation into account.

Secondly, are you perhaps forgetting the cost of building the place?

So...
You've said...
340k house + 340k house
= 680k total value - 340k original purchase
= 340k profit.

Whereas the actual sums are probably more like...
280k house + 280k house
= 560k total value - 200k building costs - 340k original purchase
= 20k profit.

How much disruption and living in a building site are you prepared to put up with?

I_have_spoken

Only way you'd get planning was if you were in the Masons

Soot2006

No clue about the mortgage considerations, but for planning it must depend on the individual area.

Where I live, near Brighton, every single end of terrace sold in the last few years now has an additional brand new house added to it, right up to the neighbouring property. Parking is on street only, perhaps some have a mini driveway ... Some end of terraces have added a house in the back garden with the access up the previous driveway between them and the next house. Let's just say in MY opinion it all looks overdeveloped and crowded, but clearly they are all getting permission as there are not enough homes around here and all building, including on previously disallowed sites, is being encouraged.

Mallotum_X

Speak to your local council.I have seen that done several times recently where I live. If there is a lack of development land and a housing shortage then the planners may well be keen on the idea.

The neighbour on the other end may object, but if they are objecting purely on financial grounds (i.e going from a semi to an end of terrace) it will be ignored.

You will need to get the mortgage company to agree and raise the capital do build the new place - or you can go through planning and if successful sell the house and permission to build the new home to a developer. Clearly you will get less that way, but will still get an uplift on what you have spent.