Planning permission wrong?

papito

Hi
please give some advice as I’m building a kitchen extension however noticed the planning permission submitted to council says “conservatory”
also my builders are basing the building regs as an simple extension not KITCHEN extension 
do planning permission needs changing??

tacpot12

This link confirms that as far as Planning Permission is concerned, providing the Conservatory or Extension are within the limits for Permitted Development, they are treated the same: Do you need planning permission for a conservatory? (2022) (everest.co.uk)

If the extension is extending an existing Kitchen, then it doesn't need to conform to the Building Regulations for Kitchens. If the Extension is a new room that is to be used as a kitchen, then it does need to conform to the Building Regulations for Kitchens.

The Buidling Regulations for Kitchens cover items such as drainage flow rates, electrics (especially the distance of sockets from the sink), ventilation, height of cookerhoods and worksurfaces, and fire alarms. Regardless of whether the extension is a new kitchen or not, I would want it to comply with the Building Regulations for Kitchens. The Regulations are designed to avoid problems that will otherwise blight your new kitchen. Your builders will have priced the job based on the regs they have to meet. Changing the spec now is going to be difficult but I would encourage you to get them to change the contract, even if that means that you need to pay more.     

Section62

papito said:

Hi
please give some advice as I’m building a kitchen extension however noticed the planning permission submitted to council says “conservatory”
also my builders are basing the building regs as an simple extension not KITCHEN extension 
do planning permission needs changing??

If you've applied for and (presumably) obtained planning consent for the extension the rules on permitted development are not relevant.  You have to build in accordance with the consent you were given.  That consent should indicate the conditions (if any) such as building in accordance with the submitted plans.

So was it a full application, or a prior approval process?

If the problem is only with the name used to describe the work in the application/notice then I would ask the council to correct or note it, so you don't have problems when you come to sell. That could be done any time.  If the plans show something different to what is being built then you should consider stopping the builders until you've been able to get the council's agreement to the changes.

For building regs it is a legal requirement to comply with the regulations applicable to the work you are doing.  If you are doing work on a dwelling then almost everything will need to comply.  The differences are in whether you need to get approval for the work before doing it, the use of notices, and the need for inspection.

Fundamentally the only difference between a 'simple extension' and a 'kitchen extension' are the things unique to a kitchen (/utility room/bathroom etc) such as drainage and additional ventilation. The foundations, walls, and roof structure need to comply with the regulations regardless of how the extension will be used.

If my builders were telling me the requirements were otherwise significantly different due to it being a 'simple extension' vs a 'kitchen extension' I'd see that as a bit of a red flag regarding their competence...

aoleks

we need more details. first, do you need planning permission? if yes, is it a full planning application or just a prior approval one? either way, are you working with building regulation sign off or building notice? what's the size of the extension and what construction type?