New Build Homes + Hold

axel132132

Hi All,

I currently have a new build home that is not really new anymore as its 5yr old. I am looking to get the loft conversion done and was told that i can do it under permittable development. I then emailed my home building company as the arcitect saw in the documents that my home builder dosent allow permitted developments.

I thought id email them and see if they would allow it. They have told me i have to pay £150 to look at my arcitect plan and that then i have to still have planning permession but they can reject my plan.

Surely this is not right, this is insane as this is my property? If i want to do a loft conversion i should be able to. I will happily get planning permission seen as though they have not allowed permitted development and i signed that.

But why should i have to pay them £150 and get there approval before i can get planning???? Its my house not theirs! 

Ridiculous! Anyone had similar / same or know why / what is going on?

Thanks for any help you can give.

kipsterno1

When you purchased the property did you read the deeds? This is likely to be a clause entered by the developers. It allows them to vet changes to properties that may not be in keeping with the plan of the estate.

We had this on our last property. My neighbour choose to ignore it when he extended despite me pointing it out. In fact he said something similar to what you typed. Roll on a few years and they were selling up at which point he came cap in hand asking for details of how to get this permission as the buyers solicitor refused to proceed without it.

Section62

axel132132 said:

Hi All,

I currently have a new build home that is not really new anymore as its 5yr old. I am looking to get the loft conversion done and was told that i can do it under permittable development. I then emailed my home building company as the arcitect saw in the documents that my home builder dosent allow permitted developments.

I thought id email them and see if they would allow it. They have told me i have to pay £150 to look at my arcitect plan and that then i have to still have planning permession but they can reject my plan.

Surely this is not right, this is insane as this is my property? If i want to do a loft conversion i should be able to. I will happily get planning permission seen as though they have not allowed permitted development and i signed that.

But why should i have to pay them £150 and get there approval before i can get planning???? Its my house not theirs! 

Ridiculous! Anyone had similar / same or know why / what is going on?

Thanks for any help you can give.

Very, very common with new developments, and a lot of older ones too.

You could get a solicitor to confirm the situation for you (assuming the one you used didn't at the time of purchase) but TBH you'll probably spend a lot more than £150 on legal advice.

Generally builders push the density of development to the max, so planning consent is not a given.  The developer cannot stop you applying for planning consent so one option might be to get the planning consent first, then get the developer consent.