Planning

PROPOSED SIDE AND REAR EXTENSION

West facing balcony.JPG
Ashfield Cottage

Planning permission has recently been obtained by Let’s Design Architecture for a two storey side extension and single storey rear extension in Ashfield. The proposal will incorporate a new larger living area and kitchen/dining space opening up onto the rear garden, as well as a large first floor bedroom with dressing room and en-suite shower room. Click the button for full details!

Permitted Development - New Legislation

Exciting news for householders!

New permitted development rights will be implemented on 25th May - this includes making the larger home extensions a permanent permitted development right! This current temporary right expires on 30th May and has allowed householders the potential to extend up to 8m beyond the rear wall of a detached house. By making this PD right permanent, there is scope for many more larger home extensions without the worry of a deadline looming.

The legislation will omit the following paragraphs which currently apply:

(13) The development must be completed on or before 30th May 2019.

(14) The developer must notify the local planning authority of the completion of the development as soon as reasonably practicable after completion.

(15) The notification referred to in sub-paragraph (14) must be in writing and must include—

(a)the name of the developer;

(b)the address or location of the development, and

(c)the date of completion.

Contact Zoe at Let’s Design Architecture for advice on how you might extend your home!

Below is an example of a larger home extension designed by Let’s Design Architecture which was permitted under the current legislation.

jo and justin bungalow.JPG

Approval of two new single storey dwellings

After 16 months, I am proud to have finally achieved an approval of reserved matters on behalf of my Clients for a site of two new dwellings in Cotton. The design is for two bespoke properties, each boasting a large open plan kitchen/living/dining space and 4 bedrooms.

Plot 1 bungalow floor plan.JPG

Planning Portal - Problems

So I am making a planning application online, usually a straightforward enough process, I fill out the form then send a draft of it as a pdf to my Client to check and let me know they are happy with it before I press submit.

Can I do that now? No. Planning Portal have currently removed the function of creating a pdf of the document.

Why?

Because people were emailing the councils large documents and they can’t cope with it.

So now the only way the Client can see the form is to have their own Planning Portal account and sign in to it to have a look through it. Which is time consuming for the Client, to set up an account, filling in all their details, when they generally will never need the account other than for the purpose of checking one form.

They are apparently working out how to fix it. Which is great, considering they are the ones who broke it in the first place.

To see why Planning Portal is creating problems for themselves and everyone else click here

PLANNING PERMISSION

I am proud to announce that planning permission has just been granted for my design of a proposed front extension to a barn-style dwelling in Mellis. The extension will form additional kitchen and bedroom/en-suite space, providing the Clients with much needed space for their daughter.

Front extension elevation

Planning Permission

Suffolk barn-style dwelling achieves planning permission for front extension 

Planning Permission

Planning permission has recently been obtained for the proposed two storey rear extension and side extension to a house in Thorndon. The Clients are very pleased with the outcome and look forward to Let's Design Architecture completing the building regulations drawings in the near future.

Approval for nine dwellings in Benhall

The reserved matters application for a proposal of nine properties at Benhall has recently been approved by Suffolk Coastal District Council. Let's Design Architecture is delighted with the outcome of the application and looks forward to watching the properties being built in the near future. 

Planning fees 20% increase

The Government has recently introduced a new fee scale for Planning Applications, increasing the fees by 20%. 

These new regulations also include the right for them to charge a fee for applications for planning permission related to the removal of permitted development rights through Article 4 directions or by condition, where this was previously free of charge.

The Planning Portal fee calculator provides the latest fees for planning applications.

Contact Zoe at Let's Design Architecture if you need drawings and to make an application for planning or building regulations. 

Permitted Development

People often ask me if they can do things without planning permission. The answer is sometimes yes, but it is always a useful exercise to check with the planning department first and get something in writing from them. They have introduced a pre-application submission process, to check whether permission is required and also whether the proposals are likely to be considered favourably upon submission. 

The good news is that there is information available on the government website which helps with ascertaining whether your development is permitted under PD rights or not. There are different classes of permitted development and the PD order is available here: legislation.gov.uk

If the document seems a bit of a daunting read, there is a very useful 'interactive house' available on the planning portal which makes life simpler. 

However, what is often unknown is whether permitted development rights apply to your property or whether they have been removed. Some properties when they were built had permitted development rights removed and some had the permitted development rights removed at a time when a previous extension was added. Check the planning permission(s) relevant to your property to see which classes may have been removed, as you may be able to do certain things under permitted development and certain other things you will need planning permission for. 

In the case of listed buildings and buildings within conservation areas, it is most likely that you will require planning permission or listed building consent to carry out any works to the property or the buildings/walls within the curtilage of the property. Again it is always best to check with the planning department before undertaking any works. 

Of course, Let's Design Architecture is here to help if you need any assistance with your proposals!