Kitchen in the loft?

[KnightWhoSaysNi]

I'm doing a loft conversion, the plans have a bedroom and shower room and have been approved by the council.

The builder said he can also fit a small kitchenette in the bedroom. It would be just a sink, a unit or two, fridge, microwave and electric hob. He says he's done it in previous loft conversions and it's been signed off by Building Control every time.

Now, I've mentioned the kitchenette to my neighbours and they said it's not allowed unless you have some kind of permission due to the fire safety hazard (they said planning permission, but I don't think planning has anything to do with it as it's internal work?).

Can somebody please clarify what's allowed and what isn't? I think the most important question here is whether I can have a sink, as that requires special infrastructure (cold and hot water pipes and a waste pipe). The only potential fire safety hazard I can think of is the electric hob, but then there are portable electric hobs / 'hot plates', so it doesn't make sense for the Building Regs to prohibit a hob in the loft as it's not a building-related thing.

 

[^woody^]

If the planning permission is not for a kitchen, then you need to get permission for it. If you are planning to rent it out, that's the additional permission you need as well as just kitchen use.

Building regulations will deal with the extra fire risk, and ventilation requirements.

And any mortgage company and insurer will want to know about the addition risk too.