Block work workshop footings ?

[markus2025]

Hi guys so im wanting to build a 4mx 3m by 2.5m tall single skin block work , workshop in my garden ive a 100mm concrete pad thats been down in my garden awhile

the building will be around 12 inch away from my neighbours boundary wall
from what i can gather i wont need planning permission but seems im likely to fall into building regs if it gets flagged due to how close its going to be to the boundary


for the building im looking to do , do i really need 700mm concrete footings... or is the chance that the 100mm pad ive had down for years would be fine to build straight onto of...

 

[Deluks]

Do you want to risk having to rebuild it?

 

[stevie888]

Dependant on your soil and presence of trees you could be looking at >>700 if following NHBC guidance.

<30sqm you don't need BR but you do need fire resistant construction.

I wouldn't chance 100mm slab if t'was mine.

 

[markus2025]

It seems you do need Building regs even if its under 30sqm if its going to be less then 1 meter from a boundary
I dont want to risk a rebuild no...

But i also dont really want to break out all the pad thats in and have to pour mega footings

 

[Deluks]

Dig a test pit at the edge of the slab and see what's what.
You could save some digging by doing a pad and beam foundation, but you'll still have to dig holes for the pads, then the expense of steel beams, rebar or massive concrete lintels. When you come full circle you'll probably decide that digging a foundation trench is the easiest option by far.

You don't need to rip out the entire slab, you could carefully cut away the edges and dig down and slightly underneath, if the ground isn't poo.

 

[Deluks]

The other option is to abandon the blocks idea, just build a couple of courses of brick off the slab, and put up a timber framed shed, you could use metal cladding sheets or fibre cement cladding to meet the 'substantially non-combustible' rule, insulate between the studwork for bonus thermal and sound insulation, and fire resistance.

 

[markus2025]

Yeah i think its going to have to go that way... as if your digging a foundation within 3 meters of a boundary you need a party wall notice and we dont get on with the neighbours so thinking about it i dont wanna go digging a meter down next to there
extension...

 

[markus2025]

But then reading these guide would not agree no planning would be needed as its no higher than 2.5m

And also no building regs would apply even though its closer then 1 meter to a boundry cause its going to be built out of non conbust i.e blocks



If you want to put up small detached buildings such as a garden shed or summerhouse in your garden, building regulations will not normally apply if the floor area of the building is less than 15 square metres and contains NO sleeping accommodation.
If the floor area of the building is between 15 square metres and 30 square metres, you will not normally be required to apply for building regulations approval providing that the building contains NO sleeping accommodation and is either at least one metre from any boundary or it is constructed substantially of non-combustible materials.

Outbuildings are considered to be permitted development, not needing planning permission, subject to the following limits and conditions:

• No outbuilding on land forward of a wall forming the principal elevation.
• Outbuildings and garages to be single storey with maximum eaves height of 2.5 metres and maximum overall height of four metres with a dual pitched roof or three metres for any other roof.
• Maximum height of 2.5 metres in the case of a building, enclosure or container within two metres of a boundary of the curtilage of the dwellinghouse.
• No verandas, balconies or raised platforms (a platform must not exceed 0.3 metres in height)
• No more than half the area of land around the "original house"* would be covered by additions or other buildings.

 

[Deluks]

If you avoid digging any big holes and clad it in something other than wood or uPVC, you don't need regs, it's just a shed.

Timber framed would probably cost more in materials and time than the blocks alone, but when you factor in digging foundations and pouring concrete, it might start to look like the better option.

 

[markus2025]

Yeah but im not looking at digging foundations...

Im looking at building blocks straight onto the concrete pad that i already have

The only thing that would force me to dig foundations would be if i needed planning which i dont or if i also had to follow building regs which i also dont if my understand of the info from the planning portal is correct

 

[Deluks]

Go for it, you might get away with it.

But be mindful that nobody on here has yet suggested that this is the best way to proceed.

 

[stevie888]

Yeah i think its going to have to go that way... as if your digging a foundation within 3 meters of a boundary you need a party wall notice and we dont get on with the neighbours so thinking about it i dont wanna go digging a meter down next to there
extension...

PW only kicks in if you are digging founds within 3m of neighbours foundations (not the boundary) AND going deeper than theirs. I always got a PWN agreed if we were within 3m irrespective as it's simpler and safer that way.

 

[markus2025]

PW only kicks in if you are digging founds within 3m of neighbours foundations (not the boundary) AND going deeper than theirs. I always got a PWN agreed if we were within 3m irrespective as it's simpler and safer that way.

Yeah and i am within 3m im going to be around a foot from there foundations

 

[markus2025]

Go for it, you might get away with it.

But be mindful that nobody on here has yet suggested that this is the best way to proceed.

What do you mean i might get away with it ? Are you talking getting away with regs or getting away with whole lot not subsiding

 

[Deluks]

What do you mean i might get away with it ? Are you talking getting away with regs or getting away with whole lot not subsiding

The second one. No one will be bothered about a small shed, unless you are running a lathe all day long!