Search results

To be fair it is not the open plan nature of the ground floor that is the problem, it is just the narrow opening between the hallway and the kitchen. In most cases I would assume a door would be inserted there to separate off the stairway from the rest of the ground floor. Apart from anything...

The steel box sections are usually a proprietary system such as Telebeam. Contact the manufacturer/supplier and they should be able to provide with details of a few contractors who are familiar with the system. If the existing roof is made up of trusses the steel box section system is probably...

Just because you've only got one set of drawings doesn't mean the "architect" only produced one set. It is very common to submit the application and then have to make some amendments to satisfy queries raised by Building Control. The architect could have sent you the old set by mistake? Ask them...

One other thing to check. Make sure you have the latest drawing? I have seen it before where the builder was given an old superseded drawing to work from and missed later amendments. Easy mistake to make.

Looks like Building Control f*cked up big time then. Tell them that you have built in accordance with the approved plan and they can jog on ....... see what they say.

I might be wrong but I was under the impression that if a full plans application is approved and it subsequently turns out there is a serious contravention shown on the approved plan that the local authority can be held liable for the cost of rectification. We do not know what the project is and...

The previous owner gave permission for the extension so the neighbour has express legal rights. Even if that permission is questionable the extension has been there for 50 years so will have acquired implied rights. You can't just go around blocking peoples windows with fences, walls or...

If the attached extension is demolished and rebuilt then it will probably require building regulations approval (assuming it isn't a porch or conservatory) and the wall facing the boundary will be required to meet the required fire resistance. This includes a limit on the maximum area of windows...

No it is still attached to the house. The fundamental issue is that it doesn't have a door opening directly in to the house (assuming the "porch" which isn't really a porch just a canopy, is as drawn and is open to the elements at the front.) The only way you'll know for sure is ask the person...

The porch isn't enclosed and the floor is raised off the ground and the "car port" is open at the front so I would have the thought the risk is no worse than if you just parked your car on the drive outside your front door. This is not the same as a fully enclosed integral garage or attached...

You can lay floor tiles on asphalt, just make sure they are frost resistant and non-slip suitable for outdoor use. You would obviously need to repair the splits in the asphalt first. As Freddie said above, the steps are probably asphalted for a reason such as a room or entrance below.

CORRECTION After reading the guidance in Random Grinch's post it refers to "Classified Roads" NOT "Designated Roads" as I said. I just checked the 2015 GDO and that is indeed the case. My bad, I got that wrong. It must have changed and I didn't notice. At least I've learnt something new today.

As I said in my previous post they can pursue their formal complaint with the council and ultimately go to the local government ombudsman. Whether it is worth all the hassle is another matter. Personally I don't think the outbuilding is all that bad and if the council did insist on the...

1. What has the enforcement officer said they are going to do? Are they planning on taking action to stop you crossing the pavement with your car? Sometimes they just act tough to try and bully people in to stopping something when in reality they have no intention of taking any action. 2. You...

There are appeal decisions that clarify "ground level" such as ..... Furthermore, when measuring the height of a structure, “ground level" should be taken to be natural ground level, and therefore excludes the level of any ground that has been artificially raised or lowered. A bit of common...

Extract from Planning Portal ...... "You will not need planning permission if a new or replacement driveway of any size uses permeable (or porous) surfacing which allows water to drain through, such as gravel, permeable concrete block paving or porous asphalt, or if the rainwater is directed to...

I think Jeds mentioned above it is probably water running off the top of the parapet wall. Carefully pour some water on the parapet and see which direction it runs. I suspect it will follow the path of the yellow arrows channelling it towards the corner. Or the parapet is flat and the corner is...

Clearly the planners have got it wrong. They are measuring from the raised ground level not the natural ground level. Whether they will do anything about it is another matter. I'm working on a case at the moment where a neighbour has doubled the size of their approved rear extension with a roof...

Sometimes it helps to put in a LDC or Prior Notification to max out your PD limits just to establish what you could build, like the 3 skinny extensions. You then go back with a planning application with what you actually want to build and as long it is no larger than what you could build under...

The key word is NATURAL ground level. You cannot raise the ground or build it up with a thick concrete slab and measure from the top of that. But as cdbe's and freddie's illustrations, on a naturally sloping site you can have a perfectly compliant building that is well over 3 metres high on the...