Planning Permission & Party Wall

Cheillie2020

Hi,

I am after some advice on planning permission. 

I am in Nottingham (if that makes any difference to rules etc). 

I have recently moved into a 4 bed detached house and I want to extend on the back. 

I don't want to go out more than 4m, and I want to extend the full width of the house, single story with a lean-to roof with velux. Approx width will be 9m.

I have created some computer based PDF drawings of before and after floor plan etc to show the builder the requirements. Basically chopping and changing other planning application drawings I've found. They look just as good as any architect would supply, and no different to anything you see done on planning portal. 

I will need RSJ for the back wall, so I will need to get a structural engineer out for the calculations which I would give to building control, right?

My question is, do I need planning permission? 

A lot of my neighbors have done similar extensions and have all applied for planning permission.

I have read that unless you go out more than 4m, you don't need to apply for planning, so why would they have done so? What is the benefit? 

Would it be because if they've paid £800+ for drawings then for the sake of £200 planning they've done it? 

Is there any limit of width of the extension for a detached house, except that it cannot exceed the current width of the house?

Is there anything I'm missing by not having an architect do the drawings and apply for planning? 

What are the benefits and why would my neighbors apply and wait 8 weeks+, the cost etc if planning isn't required. 

Another question is that if I go the full width of the house, then I would need to take down part of 1 neighbors adjoining fence in order to lay foundations and build inline with the current house. Am I right in thinking that a simple Party Wall Act would be required here? I guess it depends how they feel about that? If they decline then I would need to step in from the fence line a bit? 

Thanks

Quorden

Sounds as if you could do this work under permitted development, however Notts CC offer pre-application advice which would tell you if planning permission is required or not, free of charge. Worth a check as it's free.

Doozergirl

Do you have your plans to view, please?  Has the house been extended before?  Are you in a conservation area or listed building? 

Cheillie2020

Doozergirl said:

Do you have your plans to view, please?  Has the house been extended before?  Are you in a conservation area or listed building? 

I do have plans but I’d rather not post them publicly. No the house hasn’t been extended nor in a conservation or listed. 

Any idea about the rule of 8m wide? 

And is the party wall act correct in my logic? 

Cheillie2020

Any advice on why or why not I should get a architect to draw the plans (rather than my DIY job). Or as to why my neighbors would have applied for planning? 

DevilDamo

What is the issue about uploading plans? If it’s to keep your address private, just block it out. Without plans, it’s hard to advise as to the potential Planning implications and/or requirements.

You’re asking about the rule of 8m but your original post mentions a ‘width’ of 9m. Is the width rule the one you’re referring to? If so, then providing it is only a rear extension, then you can extend across the whole width of the original (as built) house. PD is not always that straight forward.

Your obligations and requirements under the Party Wall Act can be found here...

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/523010/Party_Wall_etc__Act_1996_-_Explanatory_Booklet.pdf

Providing your drawings meet the LPA’s validation requirements, then there isn’t any harm in submitting them yourself.

kie-ade

"I have created some computer based PDF drawings of before and after floor plan etc to show the builder the requirements. Basically chopping and changing other planning application drawings I've found"
Sounds like you did need an Architect to do the drawing work then!
I hope you asked for permission to use their copyrighted work that must have taken time & skill to create?

GordonBurnett

If you are building a new wall on a boundary not already built on, other than by a fence, then you'd need to serve PW Notice (or Notices if the excavations affect a nearby building, are within 3m and expected to be below their property). The neighbours can consent to the work or appoint a surveyor. If you build  say 100mm inside the line and keep the footings away too, you might be able to avoid the PW Act (if the foundation thing doesn't apply) but with it you get a right of access to tidy the wall up their side. It's a potential cost but not necessarily a huge one and something hopefully you can discuss with a decent neighbour. Depending on the volume you might not need planning but you still need building regs and someone to do the drawings. Talk to them about all of this.

DevilDamo

GordonBurnett said:

Depending on the volume you might not need planning

Not sure where you’ve been for the last 12yrs as the volume allowances for PD were abolished in around 2008.