David Rutland & Co. Ltd
Building Design
Creating an extension
Building an extension to your property increases its overall size and is therefore requires planning permission. This in turn involves the services of an experienced architect as very detailed plans need to be drawn up before approval can be granted and also to provide us with the level of detail we need to work with. If you have a local architect already then we are very happy to work with them. Alternatively, we can take some of the hassle away via our ‘Design2Build’ service where we undertake to select an experienced local architect for you. The information below contains brief information of the sort of things you need to consider.
The most common type of residential home extension is a two storey side extension. Unfortunately it is also one of the easiest to get wrong regarding planning permission. Side extensions have a lot of issues needing very careful consideration before you submit your plans to the Planning Department.
A key thing to consider at the start is the impact of your project on your neighbours. Most council guidelines will not let you build right up to your boundary on the first floor level to prevent the effect of creating a row of terraced houses. To avoid this usually means that you inset the extension by at least 1 metre. However, the ground floor level can usually go closer. There is also the shape of your extension to consider as it is often required that you set back the extension to break up the wall and roof lines. If you simply replicate exactly the same as your neighbour may have done then it may well not be passed.
The next thing to decide is whether you want side windows to your extension. The concern here is what is called ‘right of light’ issues - effectively blocking/reducing your neighbours light. Some side windows you may be happy to live without, while others you may feel are essential. The next issue is the off-road parking requirements. Additional bedrooms often means another car to be catered for (in planners winds). If your area already has an on road parking problem then you need to carefully consider what you will be presenting to the planners. The last issue is what the overall appearance might be. If your property already appears as long and thin, offering a wide street presence, then a two storey side extension will just increase this and may fall foul of the planners. An experienced architect will take this into consideration and get round the problem by recessing the extension further back from the front elevation and wrapping it round the rear or, alternatively, wrapping part of it around the front. These can often give you the additional space you require in a way the planners will be happy with. The latter can also help to turn what would otherwise be a rather bland extension into something attractive. So, have some clear ideas regarding what you want to achieve with your extension, but be willing to be flexible and work with the architects to allow them to help you achieve it so your plans have a much greater chance of being passed at the first attempt.