Planning for Flue / Chimney

Gorie

I live in a relatively new house, circa 1990, and wish to install a wood burning stove into the lounge. As the house does not have a chimney a double lined aluminium chimney needs to go out then up the external wall at the side of the house (above my land).

I've spent ages googling and reading and can state the following:

• The front of my house faces the road and chimney/flue will not be on this aspect (it will be the side). It won't go more than one meter above the roofline.
• The house needs a DEFRA approved stove as its in a 'smoke control area under the clean air act 1956'.
• It is not in a conservation zone.
• I have a HETAS engineer to install and sign the appliance off.

My question is do I need planning permission to install this new chimney/flue?

My house has 'an article 4 directive meaning there are no permitted development rights'. Annoyingly I have spoken to Oxford council planning (they have a drop in service) and was informed that I would need to pay £40 for some provisional planning application advice and they couldn't say?!.

My HETAS installer states that he really isn't sure and that I should check with planning. The local stove shop have told me I do not need permission.

I'm concerned that the month turn around and £40 for written advice from the council will extend the project and equally increase the cost as in this case planning applications are free (except for drawings). If I do apply for planning and its not needed I have wasted the fee for drawings and also potentially waited ages!

If anyone knows any more about this stuff / has any advice it will be well appreciated.
Thanks

cjmillsnun

You will need to submit a planning application as you do not have permitted development rights.

Factors in your favour

It won’t impact the street scene

You’re not in a conservation area.

Factors not in your favour

You’re in a smoke control zone. However as you say using a DEFRA approved stove will negate this.

sheramber

We didn't need planning permission but we did need Building Control to instal a chimney for our wood burning stove.

Gorie

Drat and double drat...

Thanks for the input.

Another job shroud in paperwork plus the cost of the plans... I'm almost tempted just to do it as I'm certain no-one will notice as that side of the house isn't overly visible...

Davesnave

Gorie wrote: »

I'm almost tempted just to do it as I'm certain no-one will notice as that side of the house isn't overly visible...

But a neighbour may smell the gases from the flue and drop you in it anyway, as they're not to everyone's taste.

There's increasing concern about the current trend for wood stoves in urban areas, as the amount of pollution from them has risen markedly in recent years, so this is not just a rubber-stamping exercise.

If you are worried about cost and you have gas, cleaner, more convenient solutions are available without so much hassle, or sticking something like the extraction system for a Chinese take away on the side of your house.

Gorie

I know... I feel more settled today and have started my planning applicaiton.

I am applying for free planning permission, it was more the duration of time delay that was of concern to me.

I agree there is a trend for these fires, but for good environmental and personal preference reasons. You can't beat sitting in front of a fire!

Anyone know of decent software I can use to submit a planning application? For such a simple drawing I at least want to try and save that money.

cjmillsnun

There is no good environmental reason to burn solid fuel.

seven-day-weekend

Gorie wrote: »

I live in a relatively new house, circa 1990, and wish to install a wood burning stove into the lounge. As the house does not have a chimney a double lined aluminium chimney needs to go out then up the external wall at the side of the house (above my land).

I've spent ages googling and reading and can state the following:

• The front of my house faces the road and chimney/flue will not be on this aspect (it will be the side). It won't go more than one meter above the roofline.
• The house needs a DEFRA approved stove as its in a 'smoke control area under the clean air act 1956'.
• It is not in a conservation zone.
• I have a HETAS engineer to install and sign the appliance off.

My question is do I need planning permission to install this new chimney/flue?

My house has 'an article 4 directive meaning there are no permitted development rights'. Annoyingly I have spoken to Oxford council planning (they have a drop in service) and was informed that I would need to pay £40 for some provisional planning application advice and they couldn't say?!.

My HETAS installer states that he really isn't sure and that I should check with planning. The local stove shop have told me I do not need permission.

I'm concerned that the month turn around and £40 for written advice from the council will extend the project and equally increase the cost as in this case planning applications are free (except for drawings). If I do apply for planning and its not needed I have wasted the fee for drawings and also potentially waited ages!

If anyone knows any more about this stuff / has any advice it will be well appreciated.
Thanks

I worked in Planning in a previous life, but have not done so for nearly fourteen years, therefore legislation may have changed since then....

....but if your property has no Permitted Development Rights, then it will need Planning Permission to involve development to the outside of the property

However, it is arguable that what you propose is not 'development', so this will be what your council need to decide and why they want you to submit the informal application.

(I also have two wood-burning stoves, but did not need PP as they vent up existing chimneys. If you have them installed by an registered installer, they can do the HETAS certificate for you, which will be Building Control compliant).

Davesnave

Gorie wrote: »

You can't beat sitting in front of a fire!

This is why some well-respected makers of multi-fuel stoves now make gas fired versions, identical to their 'real' counterparts. You'd be hard-pressed to tell them apart, without seeing how much dust they produce in a week!

I have a sound economic/environmental reason for having a wood stove, because wood comes to me free as part of what I do. If the village had gas, though, I'd be tempted to convert and just flog my logs.

seven-day-weekend

Davesnave wrote: »

This is why some well-respected makers of multi-fuel stoves now make gas fired versions, identical to their 'real' counterparts. You'd be hard-pressed to tell them apart, without seeing how much dust they produce in a week!

I have a sound economic/environmental reason for having a wood stove, because wood comes to me free as part of what I do. If the village had gas, though, I'd be tempted to convert and just flog my logs.

We had our log burners so that we could use a renewable resource for some of the time; to us that made for good stewardship.

We use our gas central heating for the majority of the time, but just wanted the choice.

martindow

Gorie wrote: »

I am applying for free planning permission

Are you sure it's free? That sounds extremely unlikely.