House Extensions - What You Should Know Before You Start!
As you might be aware House Extensions come in all sort of shapes and sizes – from a single-storey, two-storey to wraparound or to the side.
If you are looking for more information on planning permission for an extension to a flat, maisonette, listed building or a type of building that isn’t a house, it’s important to consult your local architect who will be able to act on your behalf when it comes to applying for planning permission.
In some instances an extension or addition to your house can be considered to be a permitted development, that means you wouldn’t need planning permission for an extension. If that’s is the case, you would not be required to gain any permissions This is however subject to certain limits and criteria.
To summarize, even if your house extension can be built under Permitted Development rights and won’t need planning permission, work still must get Building Regulations approval. It may be that your extensions do not require planning permission but will require building regulations, your local architect will know what will be required and ensure that all relevant consents will be obtained for your project.
The Building Regulations set out minimum requirements for structural integrity, fire safety, energy efficiency, damp proofing, ventilation and other key aspects that ensure a building is safe.
Party Wall Act. What is it?
The Party Wall Act etc. 1996 allows you to carry out work on, or up to, your neighbours’ land and buildings, formalising the arrangements while also protecting everyone’s interests. This is not a matter covered by planning or building control.
If your house extension involves building or digging foundations within 3m of the boundary, party wall or party wall structure, or digging foundations within 6m of a boundary, the work will require you to comply with the Party Wall Act. In these cases you may need a surveyor to act on your behalf.
When the plans are approved, local London builders will provide you with detailed quotes, with a view to signing a contract.
* Please note that builder estimates can be revised until you have agreed a written quote. They can give you a fixed quote for your extension, providing that all work is detailed, post-planning architectural drawings have been produced, and our builder has visited the property to discuss your requirements and carry out a survey of the site conditions. The contract must be signed by both parties before any work commences. The fixed quote from building contractor will form part of this contract.
Author
Simply London Builders - West London Builders specialises in a complete range of superb Home/Kitchen Extensions in London known for completing projects on-time and on-budget, combining great value-for-money with a high standard of quality.