Pre-application - Is 6m full width extension of leasehold flat possible?

icebergx

Hi all, I'm interested in offering on a ground floor, one bedroom flat within a converted Victorian Terraced house. It’s not very big, and needs a lot of work, including resolving what looks like a major damp problem, before I can move in. That’s why I was thinking of extending the back of the property at the same time as I start works to make the property habitable. The flat includes a big garden, approximately 25m long, so considerable outdoor space will remain after any extension is built I discovered permitted development rights do not apply on leasehold properties, so I would need to go through a full planning application.

Currently, several properties on the street have extended out 3m from their original houses. My intension was to build a 6m, full-width extension, as would normally be possible under permitted development (pending neighbour consultation and permission from the freeholder), but obviously this would require full planning permission in this instance.

If I were to submit a planning application, is this type of extension likely to "pass." I don’t want to proceed with making an offer on the property, if this is not possible, as without this, the property would not suit my living needs.

Current layout:
Proposed layout:
Extension measurements:

Thanks.

mrschaucer

If this flat is leasehold you will normally require permission from the freeholder before you can do any building work at all. Have you checked whether you are likely to get this?

Doozergirl

You're going to need a pre-app. We can't possible say what is acceptable to the planning office or the freeholder.

System

I'll be honest with you, preapplication is generally not worth the paper it's written on and certainly wouldn't be something that I based the offer on a property on. You will get some pretty generic and noncommittal advice, signed off with a disclaimer abiut how the advice is not a decision and only made on the basis of the current information etc.
Given the timescales and complexity of something like this I think you should look for a property that suits your needs or where a potential extension would be nice but not necessary to make it work for you

Gloomendoom

I put in a pre-application for my planning permission and I'm glad I did. What I wanted was poles apart from what they wanted me to have. The resulting discussion meant my subsequent full application sailed through without any mods required.

AlexMac

It will probably vary across local authority planning areas by my Council is open to pre-app advice and actually issues published guidance on waht is and isn't acceptable
http://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/downloads/file/3206/residential_extensions_basements_and_conversions_guidance

As you say, it confirms that the recent liberalisations of waht extendions you can do mean that 6m is poss but the "prior approval scheme" is required for developemnts of 6m out from the rear (as opposed to the old 3m).
In our manor the scheme is in effect the same as a {Plan App

Our experience as a NIMBY resiednts Assoc is that our our Council planners are despaerte to approve all applications within the law cos they cant be raased to cope with appeals to the Pklanning Inspectorate but that may vary area to area.

So I'd sday you'll probably be OK - but surely the bigger issue is freeholder permisiion ? So who is the freeholder; joint? Absent? Chat to them prior.

They could stuff you

icebergx

mrschaucer wrote: »

If this flat is leasehold you will normally require permission from the freeholder before you can do any building work at all. Have you checked whether you are likely to get this?

Yes, Freeholder permission is obtainable. They've said that they would grant permission to any works I want to do. The lease also needs to be extended, so they've agreed that this will all be dealt with at the same time.

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I put in a pre-application for my planning permission and I'm glad I did. What I wanted was poles apart from what they wanted me to have. The resulting discussion meant my subsequent full application sailed through without any mods required.

I've approached the council regarding a pre-app. Hopefully this will give me a clearer idea of what is and isn't possible.

the_r_sole wrote: »

I'll be honest with you, preapplication is generally not worth the paper it's written on and certainly wouldn't be something that I based the offer on a property on.

This is what i'm worried about, but I may well put in an application for planning during the purchase process, or even make an offer subject to planning being granted.

Gloomendoom

icebergx wrote: »

This is what i'm worried about, but I may well put in an application for planning during the purchase process, or even make an offer subject to planning being granted.

I would check how long it generally takes for an application to be processed in your area.

It isn't usually particularly quick.