I am having a hip-to-gable loft extension under PD rights. Drawings ready to send off for Certificate of Lawfulness.
However, when doing loft conversion I want my current roof tiles (see picture) changed back to the original style of tiles when house was built (so-called “Original Dwelling”) so that the roof exterior is again in keeping with the neighbours & rest of the street.
PD regulations state: “The materials used in any exterior work must be of a similar appearance to those on the exterior of the existing house.” So am wondering if my desired roof tiles would be covered by PD or instead require a planning application.
Hence, two main questions:
Q1: Would Council likely consider the two roof tile styles shown above to be sufficiently of similar appearance, thereby falling within PD? I have noticed several houses in the wider neighbourhood changing roof tiles WITHOUT planning permission, and not been served any Enforcement Notice. Does the council not care, or not know, or else consider such changes to be sufficiently "of a similar appearance"?
Q2: If proposed tiles are NOT similar enough, what is the best route forward? Should Planning Permission for changing the tiles be safely obtained before submitting PD Certificate of Lawfulness for the loft, or sought after having obtained the Certificate?
If seeking Planning Permission after getting Lawfulness Certificate, my architect believes that, for householder Planning applications, the council normally considers something that's “already built” bizarrely implying that the Loft build might need to be fully complete prior to registering the Planning application for the desired roof tiles. This would cost a fortune, as newly laid tiles on completed loft extension would (after just a few weeks) have to be removed and replaced with the desired roof tiles, once PP is successful. Makes more sense (logistically and economically) to combine the loft conversion and the new tiles in one single build. Hence my conundrum on best way forward.
Two further options:
- Just get the Certificate of Lawfulness and not bother mentioning the change in tiles to the Council, as it will not be on their radar, and thankfully the new tiles fit in with what the neighbours already have
- Pay good money (£200) for council's Pre Application advice service (thus putting it very much on their radar)
However, when doing loft conversion I want my current roof tiles (see picture) changed back to the original style of tiles when house was built (so-called “Original Dwelling”) so that the roof exterior is again in keeping with the neighbours & rest of the street.
PD regulations state: “The materials used in any exterior work must be of a similar appearance to those on the exterior of the existing house.” So am wondering if my desired roof tiles would be covered by PD or instead require a planning application.
Hence, two main questions:
Q1: Would Council likely consider the two roof tile styles shown above to be sufficiently of similar appearance, thereby falling within PD? I have noticed several houses in the wider neighbourhood changing roof tiles WITHOUT planning permission, and not been served any Enforcement Notice. Does the council not care, or not know, or else consider such changes to be sufficiently "of a similar appearance"?
Q2: If proposed tiles are NOT similar enough, what is the best route forward? Should Planning Permission for changing the tiles be safely obtained before submitting PD Certificate of Lawfulness for the loft, or sought after having obtained the Certificate?
If seeking Planning Permission after getting Lawfulness Certificate, my architect believes that, for householder Planning applications, the council normally considers something that's “already built” bizarrely implying that the Loft build might need to be fully complete prior to registering the Planning application for the desired roof tiles. This would cost a fortune, as newly laid tiles on completed loft extension would (after just a few weeks) have to be removed and replaced with the desired roof tiles, once PP is successful. Makes more sense (logistically and economically) to combine the loft conversion and the new tiles in one single build. Hence my conundrum on best way forward.
Two further options:
- Just get the Certificate of Lawfulness and not bother mentioning the change in tiles to the Council, as it will not be on their radar, and thankfully the new tiles fit in with what the neighbours already have
- Pay good money (£200) for council's Pre Application advice service (thus putting it very much on their radar)
Last edited: