Calling all Self-Build / Builders / Regulation experts

davidmcn

homeless9 said:

Yeah, was just ranting about how things work here in the UK. There is all these rules about building something in keeping with the neighbourhood, but as I say, there are a lot of people who aren't house proud and will leave their house looking a mess yet the planning authorities are worrying about whether the bricks on your extension match the bricks the next door neighbour has. Meanwhile Sandra down the road has painted her house bright green.

You're focusing on what things look like, but planning isn't just about that. If you're proposing an additional house, then (all other things being equal) that's more people living in the neighbourhood. So more noise, more parking, more bins, more water/sewage, more people wanting school places and all the other public services, etc. Have a look at the papers online for similar planning applications to see the sort of considerations in play.

And in general, planners aren't fond of new houses being plonked into what are essentially back gardens. You get one, and everyone will be wanting permission to turn their sheds/garages into houses.

homeless9

thearchitect said:

Sorry to be negative, but you need to be realstic about the challenge ahead of you if you want to continue or you run the risk of a very serious disappointment after you have invested more time and effort.

That's why I am here, to get this kind of info. Thanks.

I don't actually know the width of the plot. I guessed the internal width of the building just from looking at a photo of the frontage of the property.

Interestingly, looking at aerial images, the workshop building + driveway (shown within the red outline) looks wider than the extensions of the neighbour next door and the neighbour next door to them.

But based on what you said it's likely a no-go. If not because of the width, but due to needing access to the neighbours garden. I thought that this could be built without needing that access. It may be possible to get access, but not worth the risk.

FreeBear

thearchitect said:Firstly, no part of your new house will be permitted to extend beyond your property boundary  That sounds easy but think about eaves, guttering, and the like.  Underground, it means you can't have a scarecement on your footings so that'll be a raft slab foundation your using.

Something along the lines of a Wikkelhouse wouldn't need much in the way of foundations, nor do they use guttering. On this plot, a Wikkelhouse wouldn't fit (the modules are 4.5m wide), but some of the design ideas could be used.

homeless9

davidmcn said:

homeless9 said:

Yeah, was just ranting about how things work here in the UK. There is all these rules about building something in keeping with the neighbourhood, but as I say, there are a lot of people who aren't house proud and will leave their house looking a mess yet the planning authorities are worrying about whether the bricks on your extension match the bricks the next door neighbour has. Meanwhile Sandra down the road has painted her house bright green.

You're focusing on what things look like, but planning isn't just about that. If you're proposing an additional house, then (all other things being equal) that's more people living in the neighbourhood. So more noise, more parking, more bins, more water/sewage, more people wanting school places and all the other public services, etc. Have a look at the papers online for similar planning applications to see the sort of considerations in play.

And in general, planners aren't fond of new houses being plonked into what are essentially back gardens. You get one, and everyone will be wanting permission to turn their sheds/garages into houses.

There is currently a workshop there, so not sure if the potential for noise would be better/worse. Impossible to say.

The workshop has the same bins as a residential property would.
You cannot have school kids in a 1 bedroom house, therefore it would not increase amount of people wanting school places.
More water/sewage...likely, but there is currently a kitchen and toilet within the workshop.
Parking yes - 1 added car.

This is in an area determined by the borough as an 'Urban Area', an area where they want to promote the building of new residential premises. It wouldn't make much sense if they worried too much about 1 extra parking space, etc.

Yeah, I see your point, if this was turned into a house then others could have an argument to do the same with their sheds/garages, BUT I doubt many people have an existing garage/shed next to their house that has 43 square feet of floorspace like this workshop has.

I don't know how, but on the next street along from this workshop someone somehow was able to build a chunky house in their garden. No idea when this was built, but this is a separate property in the garden of one of the houses on the main street.

davidmcn

homeless9 said:

davidmcn said:

homeless9 said:

Yeah, was just ranting about how things work here in the UK. There is all these rules about building something in keeping with the neighbourhood, but as I say, there are a lot of people who aren't house proud and will leave their house looking a mess yet the planning authorities are worrying about whether the bricks on your extension match the bricks the next door neighbour has. Meanwhile Sandra down the road has painted her house bright green.

You're focusing on what things look like, but planning isn't just about that. If you're proposing an additional house, then (all other things being equal) that's more people living in the neighbourhood. So more noise, more parking, more bins, more water/sewage, more people wanting school places and all the other public services, etc. Have a look at the papers online for similar planning applications to see the sort of considerations in play.

And in general, planners aren't fond of new houses being plonked into what are essentially back gardens. You get one, and everyone will be wanting permission to turn their sheds/garages into houses.

You cannot have school kids in a 1 bedroom house

Oh yes you can, and people do (after all, you have less money for housing if you've also got kids). Used to work for a council where their developer contributions assumed 1 bed houses wouldn't affect school places, but they got caught out by that.

homeless9

davidmcn said:

Oh yes you can, and people do (after all, you have less money for housing if you've also got kids). Used to work for a council where their developer contributions assumed 1 bed houses wouldn't affect school places, but they got caught out by that.

ok, but would be a bit much if they denied the building of a single 1 bedroom house because it might one day house a school kid. I mean they just built a load of flats up the road, so why would they worry about 1 extra 1 bedroom dwelling. Maybe if a 40 home estate with 3 and 4 bed houses was proposed then they'd have something to think about. 

homeless9

homeless9 said:

I don't know how, but on the next street along from this workshop someone somehow was able to build a chunky house in their garden. No idea when this was built, but this is a separate property in the garden of one of the houses on the main street.

I just found out more about this property in the next road along.

It was an office which was given planning permission to be changed to a 2 bedroom house in 2011 and it's effectively in amongst neighbours gardens and also has access to 1 parking permit.

So that bodes well.

The main concerns that were raised were that the property overlooked neighbours and was overlooked by neighbours. There was something noted about a change in the design of the roof which led to approval.

My plans would not amount to any overlooking. Again bodes well.

I also noticed planners like to see 'Sustainable Design and Construction'. Currently the workshop has a terrible energy efficiency rating. So this would be easy to improve upon and make it as energy efficient as physically possible would be my aim.

Planners also like amenity space to enjoy the outside space as well as store dustbins. The driveway gives an opportunity to create a small garden terrace and bin storage space.


I am open minded still. It's not like I am going to go buy the workshop on a wing and a prayer. I enjoy looking into these things and understanding the process. 

I just need to know the existing internal width and understand if I can keep the existing walls that are in place, but improve upon their insulation and what that would mean as to the width of the property if I had to make them wider. Not sure if I'd need access to neighbours properties to build the wall slightly higher and to put on a flat roof. Flat roof also means no side guttering needed, so no overhang into neighbours gardens.