Permitted Development?

Frosty86

We are currently looking to make some improvements to our 50s semi. The property has previously (1980s) had a double floor extension to the rear which was taken right up to an outhouse which I believe was previously a coal shed. As part of the extension a door has been knocked through and this shed has been turned into a toilet and storage area, poorly. It is a single skin brick building with an asbestos roof and no proper floor so is very cold. As part of our improvements we are looking to utilise this space by properly insulating it and having it properly fitted out as a downstairs loo and utility area with a handy second access to the garden for muddy feet and dogs.

We have had our first builder round to quote for the works and he has suggested it shouldn't be a problem to do the works and he made some suggestions such as building the wall on the lower side of the single pitch roof and creating a flat roof.

My question would be is this likely to cause any issues and would it likely be classed as permitted development or would it need planning permission? The building also borders our neighbours property and joins onto their shed which is unattached to their property so would this also require party wall agreements?

EachPenny

The first thing you need to look at is how the 1980's extension was added. Was that permitted development, or was there a planning consent? If the latter, then have you got a copy and checked what it says regarding the shed/outhouse and also any impact that consent has on PD rights?

If the extension was done under PD then you will need to look at how much of the PD allowance for the property this extension has already used, and whether the incorporation of the shed/outhouse into the main building was done at exactly the same time or as a later modification. Bear in mind it is the PD regulations which applied at the time the extension was built that would be relevant, not the ones currently in force.

martinsurrey

Frosty86 wrote: »

My question would be is this likely to cause any issues and would it likely be classed as permitted development or would it need planning permission? The building also borders our neighbours property and joins onto their shed which is unattached to their property so would this also require party wall agreements?

PD is judged against the building as it was built, or as it stood on 1st July 1948, which ever is later.

When a new element is added you consider the additional envelope that the new element is apart of compared to the above base line and evaluate the PD rights on that basis.

For example,

A house has a double height side extension that needed planning permission in the 1990's. If done now that extension would still not meet PD rights.

the owners now want a REAR extension 3m deep (and meet all other PD conditions).

if they only build across the back of the original house (not connected to the side extension) it would meet PD rights as long as they haven't been removed.

if they build across the back of the 1990's extension as well, it connects the 2 extensions, so you evaluate the whole rear and side extensions against PD rights, which it doesn't meet, so a planning application is needed.