Two story side extension on Hip to gable loft converted with rear dormer

[pgmaverick]

Hi,

I'm new to this forum so apologies if this is a common question as I couldn't find any straight forward answer.

I have purchased a semi detached house which already has a Hip to gable loft converted with rear dormer and ground floor side extension.
I want to do 1st floor side extension to add a bathroom and room.
I have been told by the architect that council wont allow 1st story side extension as loft is already converted from hip to gable.

The Council in question is Harrow council.

Anyone has past experience of this sort of requirements in general or anything in particular with harrow council?

Thank you.

 

[wessex101]

Hi,

I'm new to this forum so apologies if this is a common question as I couldn't find any straight forward answer.

I have purchased a semi detached house which already has a Hip to gable loft converted with rear dormer and ground floor side extension.
I want to do 1st floor side extension to add a bathroom and room.
I have been told by the architect that council wont allow 1st story side extension as loft is already converted from hip to gable.

The Council in question is Harrow council.

Anyone has past experience of this sort of requirements in general or anything in particular with harrow council?

Thank you.

The terminology is rather confusing.
The proposed extension will need planning permission, I assume the architect is saying that it is unlikely to be approved due to a local planning policy. I fail to see that the existing hip to gable conversion is relevant. Ask the architect what the local planning policy is, it probably just refers to 2 storey side extensions.
Is the confusion that the extension cannot be done under permitted development due to the existing hip to gable conversion? If so that is a red herring as a 1st floor side extension is never permitted development.

 

[pgmaverick]

Firstly thank you for your reply.
The property has loft already converted with rear dormer and hip to gable roof conversion.
I'm fine to take planning permission but architect has a view local council won't approve double story side extension due to roof already covered to gable. Is there a norm around it?

 

[wessex101]

Firstly thank you for your reply.
The property has loft already converted with rear dormer and hip to gable roof conversion.
I'm fine to take planning permission but architect has a view local council won't approve double story side extension due to roof already covered to gable. Is there a norm around it?

I doubt it very much. There are lots of restrictions on 2 storey side extensions such as distance to boundary and neighbours (terracing), set back to the front elevation etc. But the configuration of the existing roof is not normally an issue.
I assume the hip to gable and rear dormer was done under permitted development. This will have no bearing on the proposed 1st floor extension. They might restrict the new extended roof void containing any habitable accommodation and might ask for a hipped roof to reduce the bulk and impact on neighbours but context is everything.

 

[^woody^]

If any proposed extension conforms with the councils' local policies - e.g. design, and does not breach the national guidelines e.g. amount of development per site, then it should be approved.

Without actually seeing Harrow's policies, it would be unusual for a council to have a policy that says if you have a loft extension you can't then have side extension.