Does £600 for planning permission to convert two windows into one sound right?

silvercar

Heliocentric said:

So would you just go ahead and change the windows and apply afterwards or do the windows and not say anything at all?

Personally I would just do the windows. But that’s me.

Heliocentric

Would you get consent afterwards or just leave it?

silvercar

Heliocentric said:

Would you get consent afterwards or just leave it?

I’d leave it a few years and then decide. To be clear I’m talking of planning permission, I’d always get building regs sign off.

Heliocentric

Thanks. Sorry for the question but when you say building regs is that the same as 'building control'? I don't know why the council only told me about planning permission.

silvercar

Heliocentric said:

Thanks. Sorry for the question but when you say building regs is that the same as 'building control'? I don't know why the council only told me about planning permission.

Yes building control can sign off that building regulations have been satisfied.

ic

Out of interest, what is on the wall round the corner on the right behind the soil stack?  Another window or door perhaps?  How far along?  Previously as two windows, the windows had support of a wall down the middle between them to take the load of the house above.  As a single window, you might find too much weight is pushed on to that corner - especially if there's already other openings down that side.  Absolutely talk to a structural engineer before letting the builder knock anything out.  If you're going for building regs, they'd want to see these calculations.

Heliocentric

Had to look up what a soil stack was! There is a door there. If it wasn't dark I'd take another pic for you. It's not immediately after the soil stack - maybe 1/2 metre away.

Okay thank you. I will speak to a structural engineer then. Do you not think a professional window company would have access to this info or in-house engineers at all? I guess there's no harm in asking first or best to do this check myself?

ic

I'd doubt a window company would provide in-house structural engineers, building firms likely will know one to talk to. 

My concern looking at that picture, assuming the new opening you want is across the two old white window cills, is that the window would allow perhaps 30 cm of wall remaining to the corner - that's probably not far off the thickness of your wall, so there'd be no return on the corner.  You normally want the bricks forming a return around the corner to strengthen it up - you might be told you can only have the opening half way across the old right hand window with the wall properly extended from the corner and toothed in if it isn't already (hard to tell from that picture - I can't tell if the wall is rendered or if that is all block work). 

Ultimately depends what's upstairs, if this is just an old lean to and there's nothing but a roof, then there's a lot less to worry about.  Its hard to tell from the picture you've shared.

Heliocentric

It's rendered and made to look like 'stone' so the brick you see on the left of the windows is likely what is underneath.

Is there a way of finding a good quality structural engineer? Is there an official governing body that they have to sign up to/be a member of?

Thanks very much for your help btw.

Section62

Heliocentric said:

Is there a way of finding a good quality structural engineer? Is there an official governing body that they have to sign up to/be a member of?

The Institution of Structural Engineers...

https://www.istructe.org/find-an-engineer/