| Extending your existing home is an option that is | | | | One thing to consider however before going ahead |
| becoming more popular with many home owners in | | | | and applying for planning permission is to speak to your |
| this modern day. A home extension can provide you | | | | neighbours about your purposed plans. This is always |
| with the added space that you need as well as | | | | a good idea as it ensures that there are no |
| possibly adding more value to your home. | | | | disagreements between you and allows you to find |
| If you are interested in a home extension is it important | | | | out whether access to their property is needed while |
| that you think about whether a home extension is the | | | | the work is being carried out. If you do need planning |
| best option for you; starting with deciding why you | | | | permission your neighbours will be informed by the |
| want your extension in the first place. Have you got a | | | | council so it is polite to let them know what is going on |
| growing family and need to create more living and | | | | prior to this. |
| sleeping space? Do you have an older relative who is | | | | One of the main aspects that you should also keep in |
| coming to live with you? You have to think carefully | | | | mind when it comes to a home extension is how much |
| about the reasons behind your planned extension as | | | | it will cost you. You will be facing the initial cost of |
| they can have an effect on your planning permission. If | | | | getting your building plans drawn up and having them |
| you are planning on moving out in a few years time | | | | submitted to the council in regards to any planning |
| you will most likely not be granted planning permission. | | | | permission or building regulations that you may be |
| Planning permission is a daunting area for home | | | | facing. If you do require planning permission or building |
| owners who are hoping to extend their property. The | | | | regulations then you will have fees to pay to your |
| reason it was put in place was to protect the public | | | | council. |
| interest with regards to the local environment and strict | | | | In regards to your actual extension the cost depends |
| control of your planned development must be | | | | on the extent of the work that has to be carried out, |
| maintained to ensure that the character and amenity | | | | for example if you require the need to knock down an |
| of your area is not negatively affected. You will need | | | | outside wall you will need a structural engineer to |
| planning permission if any of the following apply:o If the | | | | calculate how much you will need to spend to replace |
| proposed extension is closer to any highway than the | | | | the structural needs of the wall. You will then be faced |
| original property unless it is at least 20 metres away | | | | with the builder/contractor costs from the people who |
| from such highway. This includes any public right of | | | | carry out your work. |
| way including bridle paths and footpaths.o If more than | | | | There is a lot that needs to be taken care of before |
| half the original amount of land surrounding the house is | | | | any work can begin and the actual work that is carried |
| covered by additional buildingso If the extension is | | | | out on your property can create hassle such as you |
| higher than the highest point of the original houseo If | | | | may not have use of your garden or driveway for a |
| the volume of the house is increased by more than | | | | few months whilst the work is being carried out. All of |
| 15% (10% for those properties within a conservation | | | | this planning and grafting is however paid off when |
| area)o If the volume of a house is increased by more | | | | you see the end results of the transformation to your |
| than 115 cubic metres | | | | property. |