Staircase change advice - buying a property

[^woody^]

They should. In reality they have a lot of leeway and I've seen them bend the rules for many a sob story.

If you want an outbuilding for your 20-odd year old offspring you'll probably be refused. If it's for granny then you have a very good chance (then the 20-odd year old moves in later).

The same policy applies if the proposed building is for your granny, your servant, your annoying spotty teen, or your grotesque cousin who must be kept away from villagers and full moons.

The building must be ancillary to the main house, occupied by a relative, helper or employee, and not rented out. That's it.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Great, in theory.

In practice I've been at a planning committee meeting where they spent zero time discussing planning policy with the applicant and were only interested in granny's needs then unanimously approved it despite it conflicting with many aspects of the local plan.

They love a sob story.

 

[mattylad]

If the stairs are too short, put new ones in that are wider.
If the headroom is too low, make a slant in that corner of the room, seen it done before.
Perhaps pull the ceiling back a little - yes this will impact the room above - perhaps put fitted wardrobes on the other side of that wall?