Dormer size guidance

[TBF]

Im new here so sorry if this has been discussed elsewhere.

I have applied for planning permission to put 2 x triple pane dormers into existing loft of detached house. They will be front facing and will overlook a private road with lake views. No houses in front.

The planner allocated to my case says the proposed dormers are too large for the house and I need to amend size.

Is there any guidance/ rule of thumb on how big a dormer can be in relation to the size of the house?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

They would expect them to be in keeping with the house and surroundings, but it can vary depending on the existing houses in the vicinity, do any of the houses in your road have front dormers, what style/size are they? Have you read your Local Plan, that may suggest something but more likely it will just say in keeping with the existing or similar if it even mentions front dormers. It may be (read more than likely) that you are at the mercy of your planner ie make them so big or you won't get approval.

 

[TBF]

I agree that I am at the mercy of my planner, he seems firm in his request.

I have read the local planning guidance and it is vague. Like you say the main message is keeping in line with the rest of the houses on the street, however I live on a new development estate with 700 ++ houses with 10 different designs = variation in size of windows and dormers etc

In fact, there is a house at the end of the street who has recently received planning permission for a second floor loft extension with 2 x enormous dormers and 2 x new 10ft high side windows that no other house on the estate has so I wondered whether this might help in the event of an appeal should my application get rejected?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

It might do, you can always appeal, again appealing is often at the mercy of the planning inspectorate, if you have time on your side and then it's pretty cheap if you can put forward a robust case yourself, otherwise you can employ a specialist or your designer (if you have one and they are suitable), some specialists work on a no win no fee basis but presumably their fees if successful are quite expensive.

Sometimes it can be better to get something approved now that you can live (ie the mercy application), then put in a second application with what you really want and expect to be rejected and take that through to appeal when it's rejected. at least then you will always have your fall back permission in place.