Where to go for advice about whether an extension is possible before buying

Hoploz

TB26, I'm thinking you ought to consider buying in a slightly cheaper area, if you can't afford what you want in your preferred place. Just a little further out and I'm sure you'd get so much more for your money.

TB26

Hoploz, I wish that were the case! Prices have gone absolutely bonkers around here. Quite literally stupid. I wasn't actually looking in Hammersmith - I am looking a bit further, but this one has come up quite reasonable so it seems worth a look.

The two double bedroom flat market around 400-450ish is not rich pickings! :sad:

eddddy

TB26 wrote: »

I am looking for a two bedroom flat, however as prices are so high I am now started looking at one bedroom ones that I might be able to extend. There is a flat in the right area that is a purpose-built ex-council flat, in a three story high small block. The flat comes with a very private large garden....

The freeholder (the council) could also be an obstacle.

Has anyone else been given permission to extend nearby? You could try phoning the leaseholder services team at lbhf.

And it sounds like applying for permission to extend could be quite expensive in lbhf (especially if there are a lot of flats in the block) :

As part of the application process, surveyors will survey all the flats in the building and draft new floor plans. The percentage of service charges to be contributed by each flat will then be reassessed. The cost of the survey, plans and possible lease variations will have to be met by the leaseholder applying for the alteration.

Link: http://apps2.lbhf.gov.uk/Images/15_86ds_71395_Your_Leasehold_Newsletter_Issue%203_WEB_tcm21-178364.pdf

G_M

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays wrote: »

I wonder how on earth we ended up with a frightening shortage of accommodation where it's needed....

I hesitate to get into an off-topic tit-for-tat but.... WHAT?

What is the connection between the "frightening shortage of accommodation" and planning departments being "the embodiment of everything that's wrong with the public sector" :huh:

ps - that's a rhetorical question. Don't bother to answer.

Davesnave

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays wrote: »

Do you deal with them every working hour, of every working day? My OH does, and I fully trust what she says about their working practices and desire to actually give a toss about the public, for whom they're supposed to serve.....

Too small a sample. That's like saying "My local school is in special measures, so you should send your child to a private school."

I've had dealings with at least 6 councils within living memory; again too small a sample, but enough to see that they differ widely. Experiences have ranged from dire to excellent, and helpful to downright rude.

Some now charge, even for an initial consultation like the one we're discussing. Thankfully, mine doesn't. Many now want these booked, rather than being a 'walk-in' service.

In recent months, every time I've asked for a visit or advice on my build, I've had quick responses and helpfulness. If I lived just half a mile away, I know from others in that area that my experiences might be well different.

jimbog

I was stunned to find that 'in this day and age', like G_M has said, it was possible to stroll into my local council (Bedford) speak to someone from the planning office without an appointment (or for any charge) to get informal advice.

Their budget has been cut, are probably up against hostile memebers of the public everyday and yet managed to be so accessible.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

Davesnave wrote: »

Too small a sample. That's like saying "My local school is in special measures, so you should send your child to a private school."

I've had dealings with at least 6 councils within living memory; again too small a sample, but enough to see that they differ widely. Experiences have ranged from dire to excellent, and helpful to downright rude.

Some now charge, even for an initial consultation like the one we're discussing. Thankfully, mine doesn't. Many now want these booked, rather than being a 'walk-in' service.

In recent months, every time I've asked for a visit or advice on my build, I've had quick responses and helpfulness. If I lived just half a mile away, I know from others in that area that my experiences might be well different.

??? I never gave an original sample size. And my OH has dealt with at least 20 LA's in the last year. All shocking, none of whose working practices would last a week in the private sector. Yes they can offer a "free half hour" of advice. If you actually want to get something built, good luck with that. Jumping through those hoops (which is the whole point of a planning process, is it not) will take month after month.

My original point to the OP still stands, if they want to develop this place, take paid for advice ASAP.

Davesnave

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays wrote: »

??? I never gave an original sample size. And my OH has dealt with at least 20 LA's in the last year. All shocking, none of whose working practices would last a week in the private sector.

Well, we can only say as we find, and I found wide variation in a sample of around 6.

If your wife's experience is different, so be it, but knowing very well how local authorities vary in another area of their practice, I must say I'm sceptical of such blanket conformity to the norm of "shocking."

However, that term would certainly apply to one council I've had dealings with.

Mrs_Imp

G_M wrote: »

Rubbish.

I can walk into my council offices tomorow and ask to see a Planning Officer. I will have to wait between 5 minutes and ha;f an hour - not bad with no appointment.

I can then explain my plans and he'll give me an informal opinion, and/or make alternative suggestions.

This of course assumes I take enough information for him to understand my intended plans:

* OS map showing location
* photo of the property
* Plan of intended extension (not a surveyors plan, literally back of an envelope is OK as ling as it is clear)
* perhaps photo of the street and/or neighboring extensions to compare
* google earial view
etc

You must have a nice council. I made an appointment to see a planning officer about a self-build on some land. I arrived at the council offices and was told to wait. Then the receptionist came back and said 'do you have an appointment?'
'yes, with Mr Y'
'oh....ummm I'll see what I can do'
A very junior junior was sent down rather than Mr Y, who just said 'No' to everything we said, and said that nothing was apropriate for the site'

Strangely, within a year there were 2 shiny new houses on the land, built by a developer.

But this is the same department that refused our PP on another property, and told the people that objected, before they told us, and not long afterwards granted another council department permission to build something almost identical, in an almost identical situation at the other end of our road.

I have very little faith in our planning department.

LeoTLion

So what you've saying is:

Someone got permission to build something on a site that you didn't actually apply for planning permission on.

Someone else got planning permission to build something similar to what you wanted to build, but on a different site, in another location.

And because of this, you have lost faith with a totally unreasonable planning department.

Do you by any chance read the Daily Mail?