2 storey side extension (currently have a linked garage etc)

[tinkxabell]

Hi All,

I am hoping for some help with our issue and this forum looks like a great place to hopefully get it.

We currently live in a semi detached house. The house is in a row of 4 houses, 3 of these houses have 2 storey side extensions, our house was given permission in the 80's/90's to have a linked garage, WC, shower and utility room.

We now want to convert the garage into a room, rebuild the ground floor and add on a first floor with a bedroom and ensuite.

We also want to create a visible gap between ourselves and the neighbour so added on a small gap on the plans as our neighbour has built right up to their boundary and their roof tiles over hang our boundary (They did this many years ago).

The council have refused our application today on the basis the design -
1. creates a terracing effect,
2. Our roof will be higher than the neighbours (Our house is slightly higher)

Does anyone have any tips for our case for appeal / anything we could approach the planning officer with?

Thank you!

 

[^woody^]

Whoever did your planning application should have known this

You can overcome the roof issue, but if "no terracing" is part of the councils planning policy, there is little you can do if it looks like terracing.

If you step it in you get half a bedroom and lots of work for very little gain. Whether that is still worth doing, is up to you to decide

 

[luisdesign]

The fact you have created a gap should be able to overcome the terracing... I mean, a terrace by its very nature is connected... so how can you have terracing when your proposal does not connect with the neighbours property?

Also, the height reason seems strange too... does the council refuse any applications to houses that are higher up a hill than their neighbours?

 

[^woody^]

It's terracing effect, not an actual terrace which the planners want to avoid.

Viewed form an angle, properties can merged into one despite any gap.

Ridge and roof heights are always assessed in context to adjacent properties and the impact on them, not just the fact that one roof is higher than another