Access to garden from rear extension

[Wibblewobble81]

First post!

We live in the ground floor /basement flat of a 4 story converted period house, with a share of freehold (shared with the other 3 flats). We share garden access with the first floor flat, we have the garden next to the house and they have the end of the garden. Currently they access the garden via a balcony and steps on the rear of the house, which is directly above our patio area.

We would like to build a rear extension within usual permitted development size, however we are aware that this will adversely affect our neighbours by removing the balcony/stairs

Initially I thought we would be able to get around this by creating a roof terrace on top of the extension with stairs down to the garden, therefore actually increasing the value of their property. However a few google searches has made me realise this probably would not be allowed due to overlooking neighbours.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how we can get around the problem, I.e. still give access to the garden for our neighbours? Would the fact that there is already a balcony in place have any bearing on the issue of overlooking neighbouring gardens? I know we need to eg agreement from all freeholders before going ahead, so I want to make sure that we can get them on board with the idea (as obviously they will just refuse if the work has an adverse affect on them!)

Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this

 

[^woody^]

First things first, permitted development doors not apply to flats - even when the building looks like a house

 

[Wibblewobble81]

Thanks for the reply - I do realise that we do not have permitted development (i only mentioned it to show we are not planning Anything outrageous) but I'm not sure there is even any point in getting to the planning stage if we don't have the other freeholders on board. I'd like to go to them with a clear plan of action before paying for an architect to work out exactly how to do it.

Or perhaps this is the wrong approach and I should be talking to an architect first?

 

[luisdesign]

You will want to get someone in to measure up and draw up plans for you. You can use these plans to show to the freeholder to get their initial approval - and then can use these plans to submit to the council for a planning application.

By all means feel free to call the freeholder and describe your ideas to them but ultimately they will want to see what it is you want to do.