Public sewer causing issues with extension

blondie4281

We have applied for planning permission to extend our house at the back by 3.35m. On the ground floor this will extend completely across the back of the house (it is a semi), and part of the way across on the first floor to create a 4th bedroom.
Since we submitted the plans we have found we have a public sewer running through our garden, 3.05m from the house. As it stands, the new rear wall would be built directly over the pipe.
We attempted to submit new plans moving the new rear wall out to 3.85m from the house to avoid the sewer. The council however refused them on the basis that they thought 3.35m was already questionably too big for our neighbours sake. However if we reduce the size down to build within the pipe we would be left with a new bedroom that would only fit a single bed, and a small kitchen.
As the extension will be built right from the boundary where we meet our neighbours, we cannot divert the drain as the diversion point would be under the extension.
Are there any other means of tackling this problem? Any thoughts would be gratefully received.

Doozergirl

Stagger the extension. Ground floor footings and room sized at 3.85m with a beam holding upstairs back wall at more where you wanted it to be and where the planners are happy. A small roof on the protruding ground floor. That will add quite a bit of cost in engineering but will get what you want.

Otherwise, some additional remodelling the house, removing some structural walls and inserting a beam to support the roof and incorporate some of the existing rooms to give you a better distribution of space.

There's always an answer, just depends on cost.

Either way, it's time to call in a structural engineer if the budget will allow.