Why a guideline for 1m from boundary?

[arbeyukay]

I'm planning a two storey side extension and I'm wondering about the "1m from boundary" guideline which seems to be mentioned, when discussing planning permission.

I appreciate no neighbour wants an extension butting up against their property. In my case though, I'm on a corner plot where there's a small strip of council owned land next to me, and across the road are some flats, some 20m away.

Are there any other reasons for this guideline?

 

[^woody^]

It's to avoid the concept of terracing, by keeping a gap betweein houses.

Some councils state 1m gaps to the boundary both sides, others may allow one owner to build to boundary but then not the other owner.

It's council specific, and if terracing wont occur then the guide should be relaxed in that instance.

 

[wessex101]

I'm planning a two storey side extension and I'm wondering about the "1m from boundary" guideline which seems to be mentioned, when discussing planning permission.

I appreciate no neighbour wants an extension butting up against their property. In my case though, I'm on a corner plot where there's a small strip of council owned land next to me, and across the road are some flats, some 20m away.

Are there any other reasons for this guideline?

Is that an actual documented planning policy with your Council? It is not an automatic restriction everywhere. I have done several 2 storey extensions right up to the boundary or closer than 1 metre. If it s not a written policy they will take each case on its merits, some will be allowed, some won't.

 

[arbeyukay]

Thank you both

 

[Aeron Rees]

Hello arbeyukay

There are not usually specific guidelines about a 1 m from the boundary. Nothing in the permitted development if you are doing it under that route and nothing usually in the guidance provided by councils if you’re submitting a full householder planning application. I have done a number of designs for clients whereby I have had a two-storey extension up against the boundary of their curtilage.

The main thing with regard to 2 story extensions up against boundaries is to take into account the 45° rule. I.e. the planner will draw a 45° line both vertically and horizontally from the bottom nearest windows to your extension from your neighbours window, and if your extension breaks that 45° rule it may be refused. However, this is not always the case as they have to take into account suns orientation, design of the extension, whether the room being served by the window is habitable or not and so forth.

The other thing to take into account though is the Party Wall Act. Basically if you’re building foundations within 3 m of your neighbours foundations and yours are lower, which in a lot of cases they are, you will need to get a party wall agreement signed by your neighbour before building, same if you are actually physically touching a party wall boundary such as a fence or wall and so forth.