1st storey side extensions stop short of boundary

[pmx_super]

I'm mulling over one day extending the first floor of my 3 bed semi out over my side garage. Several people on my road have done the same, but what's puzzling me is that all of them (bar one) stop about 3' short of the boundary with the neighbour, with the ground floor extending to the boundary.

I can see that you need a bit of space up there to ensure the eves and gutter don't cross the boundary line but 3' way exceeds that requirement. Conversely they're some way short of the 2m gap required for PD.

To help visualise it here's what my house currently looks like:

Untitled

• pmx_super
• 28 Jul 2011
• 2

Any ideas?

 

[noseall]

The planners are prolly refusing full size extensions to avoid the 'terracing effect'.

 

[jeds]

There's no PD for two storey side extensions.

 

[pmx_super]

Those 2 replies give me all I need, thanks.

When I look at the impact the house that went right to the boundary has had on his neighbour I can see why. I guess he got lucky, and his neighbour the opposite.

I was optimistically hoping for some kind of reply that suggested they were within some PD requirement I hadn't fully understood. At least I was right about not having understood the PD regs.

 

[DevilDamo]

You may also find the LPA insist on the first floor stepping back from the front too. Depends on the LPA's planning guidance documents.

 

[eddieed]

You may also find the LPA insist on the first floor stepping back from the front too. Depends on the LPA's planning guidance documents.

Yes you will probably need to meet the guidelines that it must look like it is an extension of the existing propery whilst not looking like an extension of the existing property and blending in!

Basically councils want their cake and to eat it. I have fallen foul of this, I even challanged them on it and won on one occasion!

For example I was told I could only extend my house in the same way as next door had already done so, I submitted my plans and they said they would refuse them because my roof was higher (single storey lean too type extension) however I had steped my extension back from my front wall as per their guidelines. They said I needed to lower the roof so it matches next door. so I said fine I'll move the wall to be inline with the front as next doors is, they stated that was against their policy. I actually said they couldn't have their cake and eat it to them on the phone, and they conceeded thats what they were trying to do and relented on the roof height!

I have other battles now but that is a different story, already taken this off topic!

 

[pmx_super]

It's about 50:50 between houses which have and haven't stepped back so I concluded that was down to personal preference.

I really hope the LPA haven't gotten more arsey recently and hence that all the "haves" are the more recent extensions.

 

[pmx_super]

Found a design guide on my LPA website which has made everything clear. They stipulate 1m gap to boundary on 1st floor side extensions.

Softer wording relating to "stepping back" so maybe there's some flexibility there:

Side extensions should not be more than half the width of the original house. In addition, the setting back of the front wall of side extensions from the front building line, can help to reduce the visual impact on the street scene. First floor side extensions should normally be set back 1 metre from the front main wall of the existing house.

 

[DevilDamo]

Yes and also a step back on the front wall. As they don't mention a distance, this could be as small as one brick. But also take into account how this wall would be supported below so a compromise may have to be made.

Always with Planning, try and go in for as much as you can let them tell you to reduce it. Obviously there's a difference between going completely over the top and trying to get that little bit extra

 

[tony1851]

Yes and also a step back on the front wall. As they don't mention a distance, this could be as small as one brick.

But his council's policy guidelines do - it's 1m back from the front wall for 1st floor extensions

 

[DevilDamo]

Apologies. How I missed that I do not know.