Working out houses "potential"

Willow101

the sort of house we want to buy isn't within our budget.
We've seen a house where we "think" we could create the house we want over time by extending BUT we don't know if we'd get planning permission. I don't think we'd want to offer on the house if it doesn't have the "potential" to be converted into our dream house.

How does one work out the "potential" of the house ?

Thanks

Davesnave

Look at houses nearby that have the sort of extension(s) you might make?

It depends upon how much you'd want to extend, of course, but if the plot has sufficient space and you're sensitive in your design regarding things like overlooking, then there should be no great problem.

Just avoid the obviously more difficult locations, like conservation areas.

For a start, give the Planning Portal the once over regarding permitted development:

https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200125/do_you_need_permission

Also, remember that building an extension, while it may look straightforward, could tax your design skills. I have plenty of space around my home, but I nearly made a serious error of judgement when planning to extend. It was only by living here for a while that the best solution for our needs became clear.

G_M

* is it a listed building?
* is it in a Conservation Area?
* is it in an Area of Outstanding Beauty?
* has it previously been Extended?
* would your ideal extension be within the limits of Permitted Development?
* What % of the land is built on?
* how close to the boundaries is the property, would the ideal extension be?
* have other local properties been extended? How similar are those properties to yours?

You could always discuss you plans with the local Planners - you don't need to own the property to do this. Most Planning Depts nowadays charge for a 'Pre-Planning meeting' (£75? £150?)

Cakeguts

If you build a full height extension on the back of some houses you create bedrooms that are like long corridors because you can't make more windows. So for something like a 3 bed semi you would need to extend sideways.

AlexMac

I think you're worrying unnecessarily. Most houses have potentail unless they're on tiny sites. 'Permitted development rights' allow lots of growth without Planning approval. There's lots of guidance on the governmment Planning Portal. And if your Council is anything like mine, they'll have a presumption in favour of agreeing development as they fear the cost and workload of refused applicants appealing to the national Planning Inspectorate.

Do a bit of research; you might even find that apart from generalised national advice, your Council issues its own guidance on what's likely to be agreed.

(our local one's at https://consultations.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/UploadedFiles/Residential%20Extensions%20Conversions%20and%20Basements%20SPD.pdf )
Guidance like this doesn't have the force of law, so you might well get away with more on a planning application, but they give you a good sart by advising what typical planners are likely to agree. For example, my council's guidance, above, suggests that two-storey rear additions should only run half the width of the rear of the house, or that loft dormers shouldn't dominate - but I know cases which have been agreed despite looking like the drawing 9 on page 21 of what should be avoided; the people who bought our last house in this borough did exactly that!

Or ask the Planners, or caht to an architect or expereinced builder

Waterlily24

We had real problems when we wanted to extend, we have a very large garden and no near neighbours. We were only allowed to extend the footprint by a third. We were allowed in the end to extend upwards but that wasn't what we wanted lol.

Davesnave

Waterlily24 wrote: »

We had real problems when we wanted to extend, we have a very large garden and no near neighbours. We were only allowed to extend the footprint by a third. We were allowed in the end to extend upwards but that wasn't what we wanted lol.

Context is everything, though. Policies from a decade ago have been relaxed.

Then, a housing estate in my village looked unthinkable, while now the main problem is finding a builder who'd want to take it on.

Then, redundant agricultural barns had to be old and have their features preserved if they were to be transformed into housing. Now even corrugated iron structures are getting the green light.