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The 45° degree rule is not universal that applies everywhere, it depends on the published planning policies of your local planning department. Having said that I have never seen it apply to a side elevation, the house would already breach the 45° rule if it did. Depending on the use of the room...

I doubt it very much. There are lots of restrictions on 2 storey side extensions such as distance to boundary and neighbours (terracing), set back to the front elevation etc. But the configuration of the existing roof is not normally an issue. I assume the hip to gable and rear dormer was done...

The terminology is rather confusing. The proposed extension will need planning permission, I assume the architect is saying that it is unlikely to be approved due to a local planning policy. I fail to see that the existing hip to gable conversion is relevant. Ask the architect what the local...

OP needs to read Section 11 of Part L - Renovation of a Thermal Element. In this case the thermal element is the external walls only measured internally, just the external walls not windows or doors. So it is more than 50% of the external walls thermal element (not including doors or windows)...

I read it that the private building control firm haven't gone bust it's just that the OP has taken so long on the build that they have closed down his application. I am a bit confused by the timeline, is it 4 years old, 3 years or 7? Anyhoo if your only concern is that the local authority...

You could ask the builder/architect to explain WHY they think sarking felt needs to be added to the existing roof to comply with Building Regulations for a loft conversion? Apart from anything else I would be interested to hear their reasoning because I certainly have never heard of it.

What stage are you at with Building Control? Has work already started or are you just getting quotes from builders? How do you intend to deal with Building Control - Building Notice or Full Plans Application? You can try to ask Building Control but until you have an application they probably...

No requirement to add a sarking felt membrane but you will need to add insulation below the rafters and create cross ventilation above the insulation. Obviously if the roof tiles are getting towards the end of their life it would make sense to strip the roof and add a vapour permeable sarking...

Where is this? Not the Brighton area by any chance?

The whole porch exemption and glazing areas for conservatories is a bit of a grey area. The Building Regulations were revised and the wording for these items was very poorly drafted leading to considerable scope to "interpret" the rules however you choose. When you start to look at these things...

It is not a matter of intent it is a matter of fact. If the building is demolished it is as if it never existed in Planning terms. How or why the building was removed is irrelevant. The enforcement action and prosecution is not for demolishing the old building it is for building the new one...

I was involved with a similar case. Homeowner converted old barn (chicken shed) to provide ancillary residential accommodation. They or the builder had the bright idea of demolishing the existing building and building up from the original footings all without planning permission. By the time I...

Two points. 1. For something like this you really need a specialist planning consultant not a bunch of idiots on the internet. 2. Surely you have a claim against the builder for negligently undermining the existing building? I hope they have a good public liability policy.

To be fair the engineer has probably specified that pad foundation as a worst case scenario. He hasn't got X-ray vision so he doesn't know what the existing foundation is like or the sub-soil. Dig a trial hole first and if there is a good foundation on good firm sub-soil he or the building...

In a Google link that someone else posted I noticed the Companies House Register shows the two current directors of PWC are Chartered Surveyors. It might be worth applying some pressure on PWC by mentioning that you are considering lodging a complaint with the RICS Professional Standards. I...

The British summer lasts no longer than 2 weeks. I'm sat in my office in the middle of August looking out at drizzle and pondering whether I should put on a jumper.. Bring on the global warming.

There was a case a few years ago when one of the big private building control firms went bust. I seem to recall people had to pay the local council for a new application. My memory is a bit hazy but I seem to recall that some councils were accepting written inspection records (if they were...

So if I'm reading this correctly Building Regulations applications were submitted for the work? Were they Full Plans Applications or Building Notice applications? If it was full plans and the plans were approved then at least they had a set of approved drawings to follow. If it was a Building...

Normal mineral fibre quilt won't burn or melt, that's why they use it for fire barriers. It does not contain asbestos.

You guys are over complicating this. In practice if cracking or some other damage is found the adjoining owner just needs to contact the party wall surveyor. The surveyor will visit and compare the reported damage with the condition survey. If the surveyor agrees that the damage is new and...