Discussion Removed

J_B

oldbikebloke said:

................................ they tried to fight it, but finally accepted common sense is more important than whatever box they had to tick to show they had actively considered the application.

I suppose there's a first for everything .... 😉😂

purplepixi

More developments on this. I went through Citizens Advice who told me I would have a case should I have restrictions placed on how I work. I'm not a factory, just a designer/dressmaker. I just want to move my kit to the garden. Anyway, as of last night (8 weeks from asking to put the shed up). I have been told the planning will be rejected unless I pull the application, apply for a change of use on the house and put in for full planning. 

I'm now really miffed as you can probably imagine. But the governments planning website https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/common_projects/56/working_from_home , has some interesting information, which says I don't need change of use. 

It's all a bit mad, with the government encouraging people to work from home. I've worked from home for many years now, without issues. Under normal circumstances this wouldn't have been an issue, it's only because we have to ask to put up a shed in our area (£200 fee just for that).

So I will be appealing this decision. It is my home, it's where my family lives, its where I sit in front of the fire on a friday with a glass of wine. I just want to move my sewing equipment to a garden room. I don't want to change the use of my family home to a business premises.

unforeseen

I've worked from home for many years now, without issues.

Probably because the council weren't aware. Now that you have contacted them about effectively expanding your business into another building on your property they have got very interested, especially using 3 rooms of your house for business purposes. 

purplepixi

unforeseen said:

I've worked from home for many years now, without issues.

Probably because the council weren't aware. Now that you have contacted them about effectively expanding your business into another building on your property they have got very interested, especially using 3 rooms of your house for business purposes. 

By 3 rooms, I don't mean I use those 3 rooms just for my business. I live in a very disjointed house. I just my fabric on the dining room table, I have the fabric piled up in the windowsill there too. I have any bits of clothing I make on a rail in my bedroom. And I have my sewing machines in the loft. Which I have to get to up a ladder. So it's not like it's 3 office rooms. They're still family rooms. I just want to put it all together in one room, outside. And be able to eat dinner at the table with my family.

Savvy_Sue

I would definitely be looking to get some professional help with this. There IS a risk that the council want to impose business rates on the previous house use, retrospectively, although I think if all rooms were demonstrably mixed use (as you describe) then this shouldn't be the case. 

The alternative - and I agree it's nowhere near as convenient - might to find a small workshop space nearby. My friend has one, she doesn't use it for business but for various reasons needed a space outside the house to get on with her craft activities. It's five minutes from home and suits her very well. Rates should be quite keen these days too. 

oldbikebloke

for those wondering why OP has thrown toys out of pram the "discussion" was over OP wants to use a stand alone "garden room" building as an "office" instead of, as they currently do, utilising rooms in their actual house