I am currently replacing an existing single-storey extension with a two storey extension (marked in green) on my house, which is end-terraced on a corner plot. As such the plot is almost triangular in shape, with a much smaller back garden than front. The extension is going on the side of the house, and almost meets the boundary fence at the back corner (with a 1m gap for access) - see image below.
I have a passion for studio photography and would dearly love to have my own purpose built studio. Of course, the one thing a studio needs is a decent height, more than can be provided by my garage. I would have liked to build something the size and shape shown in the blue hatched area in the picture, but I'm relatively certain that planning wouldn't accept such a structure in my front garden - even though I was thinking of doing something "log-cabin-like". I think it would take me below the 66% unbuilt plot ratio.
As such, I was thinking of building a "sunken garden" by digging the blue hatched area in the sketch down by approx 1m with a blockwork retaining wall all around. If I then put a large pergola over the top (re-using the existing roofing joists I'm taking off my single-storey garage), that would give me much of the framework I need. Assuming this pergola is around 2m tall, that gives me 3m of height to play with.
A dozen or so larch lap panels hooked onto the uprights with gate hooks and I have the space I'm looking for... I think. Maybe at some stage, I could replace some of the panels with something a little more substantial and put some corrugated clear perspex on the top of the pergola.
What would the planning & building regs status be for something like this?
As such, I was thinking of building a "sunken garden" by digging the blue hatched area in the sketch down by approx 1m with a blockwork retaining wall all around. If I then put a large pergola over the top (re-using the existing roofing joists I'm taking off my single-storey garage), that would give me much of the framework I need. Assuming this pergola is around 2m tall, that gives me 3m of height to play with.
A dozen or so larch lap panels hooked onto the uprights with gate hooks and I have the space I'm looking for... I think. Maybe at some stage, I could replace some of the panels with something a little more substantial and put some corrugated clear perspex on the top of the pergola.
What would the planning & building regs status be for something like this?
