Buying to extend - what to do next

fiftyp

Hi

There's a 2-bedroom bungalow for sale in an area I like.
It's is in a corner location, with more land than most.

There's about 16 feet at the side - most have 8.
There's about 26 feet at the rear, 37 if you include the rear driveway & old detached garage.

I'd like to buy it and do a wrap-around ground floor extension
- adding 12.5 feet at the side, and 14 at the rear.
I'd also like to do a loft conversion (many have done that).

How to I proceed?

I don't want to buy then find I can't extend that far.
But I don't want to miss a rare opportunity.

Do I ask an architect, builder, or local planning authority?

Thanks in advance

anselld

The only way to be certain is to make an offer subject to planning approval, submit an application and await decision prior to exchange of contracts.

You can get pre-application advice from planning or from an architect who is familiar with the local area, but neither can give certainty.

Doozergirl

I'd start with an architect who knows the local authority very well. And then preferably a pre-app - but that takes times.

Corner plots are often subject to two 'building lines', so be careful particularly on where you extend to the side.

My new neighbours thought they had a lot more room to extend than they do - between the 45 degree rule and the two building lines, their intial plans were knocked back. They are getting a much bigger house but the cost of the redesign of only extending a small way in several directions is hugely more expensive than extending in one.

you may find that a knock down and rebuild is cheaper than wraparound and loft conversion. The removal of VAT on a new build makes a lot of difference.

csgohan4

Question is also will the vendor wait for all this planning approval and rather go with someone else who will be quicker

fiftyp

Thank you everyone, much appreciated - all very helpful advice, both for this property and others I'm looking at.

After viewing this particular property, it's in such a poor state, with damp problems etc. that it needs totally gutting. Even the driveways and detached garage need replacing. It also feels much smaller than the floor plan lead me to believe, so I don't think it's financially viable to extend the way I'd like to.