Extension

Saint84

Hi

i am looking to get an extension done under permitted development. I believe for a detached house, it’s something like 3 metres?

I know someone who is an architect so they are doing some drawings for me. But I am looking for advice on where do i even start with something like this?

its bit of a Wild West out there - so i guess my question is do people normally engage a well reputable Project Manager to sort this all out. as I don;’t have the time with two young kids but don’t have the knowledge either. 

Tips please. 

grumpy_codger

I think it's more than 3m, but a pitched roof can be problematic for bigger size.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d77afc8e5274a27cdb2c9e9/190910_Tech_Guide_for_publishing.pdf

Section62

Saint84 said:

Hi

i am looking to get an extension done under permitted development. I believe for a detached house, it’s something like 3 metres?

I know someone who is an architect so they are doing some drawings for me. But I am looking for advice on where do i even start with something like this?

its bit of a Wild West out there - so i guess my question is do people normally engage a well reputable Project Manager to sort this all out. as I don;’t have the time with two young kids but don’t have the knowledge either. 

Tips please. 

Your architect should know the planning rules and guide you through the planning process.  The PD rules are complicated, it isn't just the size of the extension.  Also some properties don't have the necessary PD rights.

To be safe it is often a good idea to apply for a certificate of lawful development from the council - the cost of these has recently gone up meaning it isn't such an easy decision to make, but having one may be useful when you come to sell the property and the buyer's solicitor asks about planning consent.

Also, limiting yourself to an extension which complies with the PD rules isn't always a good idea.  If you've got an architect drawing up plans then the additional cost of applying for full planning consent isn't excessive as a %age of the overall project - so if there's a better layout or design which wouldn't be PD then don't rule it out just because you'd need to get planning consent.

Saint84

Thank you - really appreciate that insight. 

understood. My garden is just a funny shape and the best extension i can get is 3m out and 5 metres wide. As my garden/border comes in at an angle and therefore I cannot extend my living room either (which would make it 8 metres wide)

SadieO

We've just finished an extension, I think it was around 2x7m in total. Single storey, extension of kitchen, addition of utility room and downstairs loo. This is our first (owned) house and we knew nothing! We got an architect recommended by a friend who drew it all up for us and checked if we needed planning permission (we didn't). He was really helpful. He offered to project manage the whole thing but nicely advised us that it would cost us, and honestly he didn't think we really needed it. He was right. We sent the architect's plans to our builder (also a personal recommendation) and he took it from there. He sorted out his own electricians, plumbers, plasterers etc. No "management" was needed from us and so it would have been money wasted if we'd hired a PM (appealing as that sounded at the beginning, as we were quite nervous never having done anything like that before!) as I am not sure what they would have done really? But as I say this was our first time so I don't know if it usual or not for builders to sort all that out. The only thing we sorted separately was the kitchen fitting as that is my friend's husband's job and I wanted to give him the work. But the builder would have sorted that too if we'd wanted.