Brand new window upper level

chloeH95

To give more light into the landing we want to add a brand new window to the side elevation of the house. Opposite neighbours are more than happy with this but I’m trying to get my head around the councils portal… is there anyone out there has done this and if building regs was required? 

There is going to be a lintel put in along with the window 

FreeBear

Any new window requires building regs - This is often done via FENSA or similar self-certifying scheme.

The lintel will certainly need Building Control sign off as it (usually) falls outside the remit of the above schemes. You may also need to submit a planning application.

One option that would avoid planning & BC is a light pipe - Worth having a look at one before you rack up costs with a new window.

Le_Kirk

I can confirm that light pipes (sun pipes) do work.  We have had one in our internal bathroom for several years now and visitors still try to turn the light off when they leave the room!  Of course you need to be able to find a route through into the attic/loft and out through the roof without too many changes of angle.

Rosa_Damascena

I am intrigued by the thought of a sun pipe (or two) in my south facing roof, I think I would get a lot more use out of my loft with this. Is this just wishful thinking?

Le_Kirk

They are normally for directing light/sun through a tube and a diffuser into a room below the loft not into the loft itself (at least I have never seen one that does).  If you want more light in the loft itself, isn't that called a window/skylight?

Rosa_Damascena

Le_Kirk said:

They are normally for directing light/sun through a tube and a diffuser into a room below the loft not into the loft itself (at least I have never seen one that does).  If you want more light in the loft itself, isn't that called a window/skylight?

I don't really want skylights, I'd want something much more discrete and less expensive to fit. Am I barking up the wrong tree here?

FreeBear

Rosa_Damascena said:

Le_Kirk said:

They are normally for directing light/sun through a tube and a diffuser into a room below the loft not into the loft itself (at least I have never seen one that does).  If you want more light in the loft itself, isn't that called a window/skylight?

I don't really want skylights, I'd want something much more discrete and less expensive to fit. Am I barking up the wrong tree here?

A skylight is not going to be any more discrete than a light pipe, especially if the latter comes with a dome. I would have thought a light pipe would also be quite a bit more expensive due to the duct & diffuser and the limited range of suppliers.

The cheap option for extra light in a loft space would be LED flood lights - Around £10 each..