Extension questions and guidance

[Bubbles121]

Hi all

We live in a really convenient area but in a house that is just too small. We're keen to put an extension onto the back of the house but having never even had a conservatory built in the past this is way beyond anything I've contemplated before.
I'm hoping to draw on the experience of anyone who's done anything similar - we live in a row of terraces (not listed) and I know we couldn't do a double story with permitted development, but is it unlikely to get permission for double story extensions? We'd quite like to push the front out a bit too if we can.

Has anyone ever done anything like this?

We had a rear extension for our semi detached house 4 years ago. It required planning permission as it was bigger than PD allowed.

I think your first step would be to contact some local architects and get them round (ideally recommended by friends/neighbours). They usually offer a free initial consultation and will know what is likely to be allowed by planning.

I think it is much harder to get planning permission for extending the front though and a rear extension may need to be hand dug as you are a terrace unless there is access to the back some other way - this will add to the cost a bit.

First thing to do is look along your terrace and others nearby and see what extensions have been built by others.

Secondly, go have a chat with your local planing department with a photo of the front and back of your house and ask whether they can give you any indication of what sort of size height extension you could consider. If what you are thinking about is a definite no then you haven't wasted any money.

Thirdly, if you get a general go ahead you should contact a local architect (ideally ask for recommendations) and have her/him draw up the plans.

You are very very unlikely to be allowed to extend the front of the house. It will often say in the Title Deeds that there is no building in front of the building line which is generally where the front of the terrace will have been built.

I agree that front extensions (if you're fronting a road) are v unlikely to be approved.

Where in the country are you? I added a full width rear extension to a semi I used to live in to give it 4 beds, but had to get planning permission as it was bigger that PD allowed. I'd contact your local planning dept.

Just a word about speaking to your local council re planning. Many don't have the facility for a chat before you go down the planning route. With cutbacks they will look if you start the official process. The architect might be a better bet to speak to regarding what may be possible.

Have you thought about loft conversion+single storey rear extension? Lofts are often easier to convert in a terrace because the roof isn't hipped at the side.

Hi all - thank you everyone for taking the time to respond!
We are end terrace with side access to the back garden so that sounds promising. Not surprised re the front extension, I was expecting as much and will ask the question still but at least I know what to expect. The terrace is a newer build (probably 70s or 80d I think) and the roof is too low to really have a loft extension. Looking down the rows it looks like most people have just done a single story extension under permitted development, I can't see any double story ones in the terraced rows but a fair few in the semi detached houses further up the road.

We are in the south east. I will see if it's possible to have a chat with a planning department and have requested a meeting with a design and build company to see what they say / recommend.

For the sake of around £200 I believe you can get full planning permission (for a simple case) rather than going with permissive development, and then you get a piece of paper for when you sell. For piece of mind I think it's worth it.

Even if you proceed under permitted development you should still pay for a Kawful Development Certifucate (about £80 I think) which Christmas firms that the work falls under PD and no planning permission was required.

Thank you everyone. I'm still waiting for the design company to book an extension, I don't really know what to do if they don't come back to me. Do you just approach an architect for a quote or do you go to a builder first?
Looking at some other threads, I had a rough budget in my head of £100K but I have a feeling that it may cost close to that for just a single story!

You can also go to an architect technician - cheaper and the one we used was incredible. She came up with really clever ideas for our double story side and front extension. I was convinced we wouldn't get planning for it and we did. She also took everything through planning and then the main building plans. She has done so many houses locally that she knew what could go through. I love how she was creative with the space, and focussed on what we really wanted from the build, maximising every area. I'm mid build (aaarrgghh, actually worse than I thought it would be) and can't wait for the vision to be realised. Also, we are on a tight budget so we've been VERY careful.