Looking at building an extension on the side of my house . . .

[thefallenangel]

Looking into the feasibility of extending the side of my semi detached house. There's a driveway down the side to the garage (which would be replaced in the extension). The gap to next door is 8 1/2 foot and 22 foot long. Good access to water, gas and electric (Via old coal shed, fuse board, gas pipe and water pipe easy to take through). Only problem is a cast waste pipe and plastic waste on back of the house.

can people advise me on what to look out for as main problems (DPC at front is only 2 bricks up on front of house which may pose a problem unless i don't build the extension flush with the front of the house as driveway slopes down.)

[johnnyrod]

God knows but a picture is worth a thousand words

[Owenski]

im not actually sure what the question is.
I know I can confirm the DPC is supposed to be 150mm up from external ground level so 2 course is correct.

[NTECUK]

Submit your application to the local authority.
They won't let you build it unless it satisfies a plethora of regulations.
Might be worth a look at the party wall act too

[Haircut]

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/

Is a good place to start, if you can avoid the need for planning permission then that simplifies things, you still need building regs, you will probabley find your local department quite approachable if you have any questions.

All building issues can be overcome if you can find the right builder.

[johnnyrod]

a mirrorard

Do you have a lassonce for your minky?

[NTECUK]

Do you have a lassonce for your minky?

Moot point.
www.minky.co.uk

[Doinitmyway]

If your extension isn't going to touch the next doors house then you won't need to look at party wall act. They do make you dig some proper deep foundations for two storey extensions though so if this is close to your neighbours outside wall.....I would speak to a builder, they can advise you on this and how the new bit ties into the existing brickwork. The DPC is the least of your worries.

[Haircut]

If your extension isn't going to touch the next doors house then you won't need to look at party wall act. They do make you dig some proper deep foundations for two storey extensions though so if this is close to your neighbours outside wall.....I would speak to a builder, they can advise you on this and how the new bit ties into the existing brickwork. The DPC is the least of your worries.

That is not entirely correct, as you have to notify your neighbors if excavating within a certain distance of their foundations, although I am not sure if you need their permission.

Again, talk to a builder (more than 1) and talk to your local planning office.

[Sir Trev]

That is not entirely correct, as you have to notify your neighbors if excavating within a certain distance of their foundations, although I am not sure if you need their permission.

Again, talk to a builder (more than 1) and talk to your local planning office.

I had this issue with my neighbour and my extension. An "Ambulance Chaser" wrote a speculative scare letter to all my neighbours about issues I would be causing them and their "rights" under the party wall act if we under-dug their foundations.... "Hire us to represent you or your house will fall down...", "Your neighbour will eat your children and defile you dog if you don't hire us...." Etc. Next door was a solicitor but amazingly fell for the twaddle and caused us endless grief, even though the slope of the ground meant we'd need foundations three times deeper than normal to be anywhere near the base of theirs. Which we didn't!

As Haircut said, don't overlook this and get your builder or planning office to advise.

[Red ones]

I'd speak to the Local Authority Building Control Officer before speaking to a builder. The BCO has not connection to the value of the works and often will let you know where you can utilise exceptions to the Regs.

[Specialone]

I've got experience with the party wall act, I've had to comply with it on a few jobs of mine.
It's a pita if the next door neighbour is retired and has nothing else to do, I have had to underpin a party wall that divided two garages between semi detached houses, had to write a method statement and have my work checked by an independent surveyor appointed by the neighbours solicitor.

Some pics off the op and I'll be able to advise, you'll only need party wall agreements if you're planning on building up to a walled border that is shared, it doesn't have to go through solicitors, there are party wall templates online that you and your neighbour can sign it.

[thefallenangel]

I think i will head to planning office as a point of call. I think there's a few more problems to be sorted than i originally foreseen

[NTECUK]

If your extension isn't going to touch the next doors house then you won't need to look at party wall act. They do make you dig some proper deep foundations for two storey extensions though so if this is close to your neighbours outside wall.....I would speak to a builder, they can advise you on this and how the new bit ties into the existing brickwork. The DPC is the least of your worries.

This is what can catch you with your pants down
"Note that the Act also covers certain excavations, which might affect a building belonging to an adjoining owner. These are:

Excavate, or excavate and construct foundations for a new building or structure, within 3m of a neighbouring owner's building or structure, where that work will go deeper than the neighbour's foundations; or

Excavate, or excavated for and construction foundations for a new building or structure, within 6m of a neighbouring owner's building or structure, where that work will cut a line downwards at 45 from the bottom of the neighbour's foundations.
And like someone said as Firms looking for work can check up online for building applications, You can end up with THEIR fee even though you didn't instruct them !!

[Sir Trev]

This is what can catch you with your pants down
"Note that the Act also covers certain excavations, which might affect a building belonging to an adjoining owner. These are:

Excavate, or excavate and construct foundations for a new building or structure, within 3m of a neighbouring owner's building or structure, where that work will go deeper than the neighbour's foundations; or

Excavate, or excavated for and construction foundations for a new building or structure, within 6m of a neighbouring owner's building or structure, where that work will cut a line downwards at 45 from the bottom of the neighbour's foundations.
And like someone said as Firms looking for work can check up online for building applications, You can end up with THEIR fee even though you didn't instruct them !!

This is exactly the wording the Ambulance Chasers use in their scare letters!

[NTECUK]

This is exactly the wording the Ambulance Chasers use in their scare letters!

I know, had one handed to me
And all I want is a conservatory
As you might guess it's now bogged down and the only people who get anything out of it is the solicitors and the other partys surveyors... :smt094

[Haircut]

Works both ways though, we had a neighbors neighbors (you get the idea one house over) decide he was going to do a DIY conservatory.

That may have been fine in his head, and at least he was digging proper foundations but you have to account for little things like mains water pipes, and the fact that your work can cause failures in the pipe on other peoples land, which can lift up their flagstones and send a jet of water high up in to the air.

We had a shared water supply between 4 houses and lost our water supply while we waited for the water company to come out and do an emergency repair . . .

Our and his neighbor then had the hassle requesting he stop work under the party wall act, lets just say it got a bit "ugly".

And remember that the Act also covers your right to do the work once you have served notice and any details have been agreed.

[Tara]

Hope you get a good Planning Officer some of the ones I have dealt with have been right T.....s with very little good reason.