Builder not wanting to price a job that involves planning

[barberj66]

Hi all

Bit of advise wanted really, had some builders round to quote for some internal wall removals and others bricked up to change the layout of the house.

Also want a conservatory on the back of the house, we have a big garden and wanted a 3m wide by about 5 or 6m long conservatory to give us more room due to having kids and wanting a bit more room. One builder we have had to quote said we could only have a 3m x 3m conservatory due to needing planning permission. Why would he say that and not want to price the larger conservatory up and just apply for planning?

Just wanted to know if there was a reason behind it or of he just wanted to do the job and not have to wait for planning? I can't see us being refused planning as next door has an extension then a kind of lean to and then a 6m long conservatory on the back.

Cheers

 

[noseall]

Planning permission is the responsibility of the homeowner and has no bearing regards builders having to price for proposed works.

If you have a drawing and a specification of works then builders can be invited to quote, with or without p.p. as the permission, whether granted or not should not affect the pricing schedule.

Is there confusion here regards planning permission and full reg's drawings mebbe?

 

[barberj66]

Not to sure all we are after is some initial costs to see of we can afford to get the work we want done.

Once we have a rough idea as to how much it would be and of we could go ahead we would then go through getting proper drawings done and apply for planning for it.

Just thought it was a bit strange he would only quote for the 3x3

 

[noseall]

Yes rather strange.

You must also accept that without a drawing or at least a precise schedule or spec' sheet then the builder is only guessing, so prices at this stage will be irrelevant. You won't be able to compare prices should you get other builders on board also.

Your best bet (if it is a connie you are after) is to get upvc companies in to design and quote for you. However upvc companies are not renowned for their...ahem..quality, of connie bases.

 

[s60tsy]

6x3 connie in white with poly roof, roughly 10k+

 

[Aragorn84]

If you need more space why not build a proper extension?

Conservatories are by their very nature, seasonal areas, designed to be occupied in the summer months, not year round. Building one because you need more space implies your going to be using it year round, so you should be building a proper extension thats designed for the purpose.

 

[barberj66]

We already had a price for a proper extension which included the internal work we wanted doing and to remove a small old lean to extension which was probably originally an old coal house and then build a 2.5m extension on the back was being quoted at £23k without a kitchen. We only paid 100k for the house so to spend almost a 1/4 of its value on that small an extension makes no sense. We would never get that money back if we come to sell up in the future.

So the idea is to put a conservatory up which would be cheaper not to fussed about it being year round really.

Just been having a look around and it seems the permitted development has been doubled between 2013 and 2016 to allow semis to build up to 6m beyond the original house without planning? Is this correct?

Cheers