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Proving "original" house size

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Hi all,
We have a house with a 4m garage attached at the side. We have planning permission to open through between the house and garage. We are also thinking about building on top of the garage (1st floor side extension). Our architect says we can only extend 2.5m due to the original footprint of the house.

I have been doing some reading and found the original footprint is how the house was in 1948 but we don't know when the garage was built! There is no planning permission for it on record and it's in a very prominent position so I'd be surprised if it was post 1948 and without planning.

How do I go about finding out if the garage counts as the "original" size of the house or not?

Thanks

E

Comments

  • FreeBear
    FreeBear Posts: 18,174 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Look at historical Ordinance Survey maps - These can be found online at various places.
    Old aerial photographs (https://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/) might have something of your area. Both these resources will pin down when the garage was built within 10-15 years if the deeds to the house doesn't provide any concrete proof.

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  • Doozergirl
    Doozergirl Posts: 34,075 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    As above.  

    Google Earth also has satellite and aerial images going back a long way.  

    Also, you can post photos of it, see if there's any clues for us.  
    Everything that is supposed to be in heaven is already here on earth.
  • eyalmms
    eyalmms Posts: 13 Forumite
    10 Posts First Anniversary
    Britain from above has one from 1947 that unfortunately shows no garage. Unlikely to be able to argue it should be included now! Thanks for the advice
  • DevilDamo
    DevilDamo Posts: 343 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Where has this 2.5m come from? Is that your LPA’s policy?

    Are you within the Green Belt?
  • eyalmms
    eyalmms Posts: 13 Forumite
    10 Posts First Anniversary
    It's half the width of the original house. It's a 5m house, with a 4m garage at the side in Barnet. We've been told you can only build sideways up to half the original footprint. That's why I was hoping the garage was built before 1948...
  • Doozergirl
    Doozergirl Posts: 34,075 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Extending to the side to half the width of the original house falls under 'permitted development', as is knocking through from the house to garage.  It's ready-made planning permission, no paperwork needed.
     

    You can simply apply for planning permission to go bigger, although you should note any quirks that your LA has.  Mine would require the extension to be subservient to the main house - so with the roof dropped slightly and the extension set back slightly from the main house.  


     
    Everything that is supposed to be in heaven is already here on earth.
  • eyalmms
    eyalmms Posts: 13 Forumite
    10 Posts First Anniversary
    Our architect is saying need planning permission for the first floor side extension. It's frustrating because when I ask about it, I just get back a "because they won't allow it"!

    This is the house. We would have to step back the first floor and have a lower roof which is fine. It just seems like such a waste for a narrow side! I have included a screenshot from the Barnet guidelines too which state can't exceed half the house but don't specify what you do if there's already something there. Especially when a narrow side would make the house look odd!..

    Thanks,

    E
  • theoretica
    theoretica Posts: 12,691 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    eyalmms said:
    Our architect is saying need planning permission for the first floor side extension. It's frustrating because when I ask about it, I just get back a "because they won't allow it"!

    This is the house. We would have to step back the first floor and have a lower roof which is fine. It just seems like such a waste for a narrow side! I have included a screenshot from the Barnet guidelines too which state can't exceed half the house but don't specify what you do if there's already something there.

    1) Apply for planning permission to knock down what is there and rebuild within their criteria.
    2) Apply for what you want and hope, despite your architect's advise to expect it to be refused.

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  • eyalmms
    eyalmms Posts: 13 Forumite
    10 Posts First Anniversary
    eyalmms said:
    Our architect is saying need planning permission for the first floor side extension. It's frustrating because when I ask about it, I just get back a "because they won't allow it"!

    This is the house. We would have to step back the first floor and have a lower roof which is fine. It just seems like such a waste for a narrow side! I have included a screenshot from the Barnet guidelines too which state can't exceed half the house but don't specify what you do if there's already something there.

    1) Apply for planning permission to knock down what is there and rebuild within their criteria.
    2) Apply for what you want and hope, despite your architect's advise to expect it to be refused.

    1) would give us a smaller extension as we'd lose the 4m garage. Plus connecting the garage to the house and extending the whole thing backwards has already been granted

    2) does that mean there's a chance they'd approve?
  • eyalmms
    eyalmms Posts: 13 Forumite
    10 Posts First Anniversary
    Don't know if it changes things but found this house around the corner that also extended on top of a double garage. Planning was approved in 2018.….
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