Porch just over 3M Sq, is there margin in permitted development?

[Saarek]

Looking to do a porch, permitted development says 3M Squared is fine but above that we will need to do planning.

The dimensions of our planned build is 3.18M Squared. Is it likely that someone from the council will come and measure up after we build, or is it likely that no one will notice?

Don't really want to go through the hassle and cost of planning if we can avoid it, especially for such a small difference.

 

[Notch7]

Nobody will ever check unless a complaint is put in and the planners have to come out and check.
If they did, you would be asked to make a planning application.....they have no choice because whoever complained would be able to point to the rules.


However in the real world the chances of getting a complaint are very very low, so unless you have a neighbour from hell, just get on with it

 

[Saarek]

Nobody will ever check unless a complaint is put in and the planners have to come out and check.
If they did, you would be asked to make a planning application.....they have no choice because whoever complained would be able to point to the rules.


However in the real world the chances of getting a complaint are very very low, so unless you have a neighbour from hell, just get on with it

My wife thought we should perhaps apply for a lawful development certificate, that way if any neighbour decided to look online they'd just see that we have permission.

I wanted to just take the risk and the builders seemed happy enough. Planning is a nightmare around here, a neighbour down then road tried to have a 4M Square porch and the planning department refused as it "would not be within keeping of the street", in the end they had to a 3M Square, which is what got me worried. It shouldn't look obviously out as it's so close.

 

[Nakajo]

Well it's not pd, so it's not lawful, so don't apply.

 

[Saarek]

Well it's not pd, so it's not lawful, so don't apply.

What I meant was apply as a 3M Sq for the Certificate. Unless somewhere ever measures they'd never know the difference and the neighbour would just see an approved development.

 

[Notch7]

And don't forget, less than 3 metres high

 

[Saarek]

And don't forget, less than 3 metres high

Yes, well within that limit!

 

[^woody^]

Nobody will ever check

I measure all extensions etc as part of any building survey, and check them against any approved plans or PD in effect at the time of the build.

 

[Saarek]

I measure all extensions etc as part of any building survey, and check them against any approved plans or PD in effect at the time of the build.

Would a building survey be required? I assumed one would not be needed for a porch?

 

[^woody^]

Would a building survey be required? I assumed one would not be needed for a porch?

The person I quoted stated thay no-one ever checks. Clearly someone does.

No, you may not need a building survey, that tends to be asked for from buyers.

 

[tony1851]

I measure all extensions etc as part of any building survey, and check them against any approved plans or PD in effect at the time of the build.

"Spoke" and "wheels" comes to mind.

 

[mrrusty]

Are porch areas calculated on internal floor area like outbuildings? Is this porch over 3m2 internally or externally?

 

[clifford1]

3 metres square is 9 square metres.

 

[mrrusty]

True. My bad - wasn't thinking...

 

[frutbunn]

It will only get measured if there's a complaint and planning enforcement get involved, even its marginally over its highly unlikely it will be taken any further, certainly at the last two authorities this never happened, even if planning enforcement wanted to it had to go up to legal to be sanctioned, the reply for a minor infringement would inevitably be "not in the public interest", so the case was closed.