Do we need planning permission for smaller front window?

[JP_]

Planning to turn our living room into a kitchen, and need to replace the bay window with a higher normal window so we can use the space for sink/worktop.

Do we need planning permission for that?

Front of house: https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-...AAAAE6Y/xnMHafzxSgM/w600-h487-no/My+house.png

 

[Sam777]

If you phone up your local planning office they should be able to advise you over the phone. You may also want to discuss this with your Building regs officer as I would assume that there drainage requirements and significant electrical works.

I would also suggest that you contact the solicitor whom helped you to purchase the property. It looks like you are in an area/development with similar properties and a shared look. Often in this instance you are prevented from making external changes to the property.

Finally it is not for me to judge but have you engaged on an architect and considered all options for the location of your kitchen I assume this is currently a living space and it is quite a drastic change to have this converted into your kitchen. It appears very close to the front door and should you need to or wish to sell this could put people off. But your house, your call.

 

[^woody^]

You won't need planning permission

 

[JP_]

I measured up today. The current window is about 140cm and the new one will be 110cm I think, so a bit taller than the 100cm which I have in the kitchen now. This will mean that the window will be just above a 92cm high worktop.

Regarding the layout - yes, pretty radical, but at the moment we have a walk-through living room which is only big enough to sit 4 people and a tiny kitchen. The new house will have large lounge room overlooking the garden and a large kitchen diner. If we were to sell and people did not like it there is space to put a corridor in and have a smaller kitchen. Personally I like the kitchen at the front an the quiet living at the back. Fed up with people wandering around my lounge while I am trying to enjoy a good film!

As for the surrounding area, there are many different house designs, some have kitchens at the front.

My builder will be popping around tomorrow, so he should have a good idea. Hopefully all will be well.

If we cannot do it I may just be totally radical and do something like this:

http://www.sinsinsworld.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/5ft-Scullery.jpg