Need to build extension that will most likely cover at least half the patio

[Fressia123]

I've been reading about the "half the land around the original house". We live in an end of terrace with a tiny patio (3x5m) and need to build some sort of extension that will create a 4th bedroom. Is this impossible?

Subdivide the largest room?

So he doesn't even live with you permanently - just comes for contact at the weekends. Seriously - you need to rethink.

Put him in the boxroom, girls in middle room. Baby either room but shares with you when his siblings stay.

Now you’ve said your DSS is only 13, I’d be less concerned about planning permission and more concerned about being reported to social services. You cannot have an underage child sleeping in the back garden on a permanent basis with no adult supervision.

Or move to a cheaper area that allows for a bigger house . It doesn't have to be forever.

I know a bloke who’s son who used to live in a log cabin in the garden, he slept in it for years without any problems.

You would only have problems if you had busybody neighbours and they grassed you up .

The cheaper areas are 1hr commute to schools. So not happening.

Being slept in for only 8 nights a month, with no other facilities, the structure could still come under permitted development if it meets the size restrictions. It would be classed as being used for purposes ancillary to the main dwelling.

A glamping pod, shepherd's hut, shed, home office etc all come under the same restrictions. A glamping pod would definitely require planning permission if not in a residential garden - don't know where the idea that it wouldn't has come from!

And again, planning permission and building regs cover very different matters. Something can be acceptable under one but not the other.

If you require PP, I doubt that it would be granted. Overdevelopment of a small plot, privacy.

This still would under residential garden though.

Girls in twin or bunk beds in one room, your son gets the box room, baby in with you when he stays as puce suggests.

You need to find an alternate solution, you cannot put your kid in the garden like this. He’s only 13. That’s pure shit for him. He will feel kicked out, no matter what he says,

Or you get a sofa bed in dining room, and a screen. You need to have him in the house.

This link sets out the basic permitted development requirements for any outbuilding. If any of these can't be met, OP will be required.
www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/common_projects/43/outbuildings

That being said, I don't think having a 13yo boy on his own in a shed is the answer to your problem.

I think bunk beds, or a small pull-out bed for the girls, and the baby in with you when the 13yo is staying is a better solution (and much cheaper).

What does your stepson's other parent have to say about this? I certainly wouldn't be sending my child to sleep in his dad's garden! He may seem enthusiastic but that's probably because he hasn't realized he'll freeze to death and not even have a plug point?!

Have you actually tried to apply for a mortgage or are you just assuming you'll be rejected?

You either need to figure out indoor sleeping arrangements or move house.

We just bought this house this year so we know our limitations! Other side is fine as long as he has his own space. They have bigger issues with him sleeping in the lounge/dining room.

It would be classed as being used for purposes ancillary to the main dwelling
Being slept in for more than a quarter of the year would not be classed as ancillary by my council.

You would only have problems if you had busybody neighbours and they grassed you up
People might not grass you up to the council for a camping pod but they’d be much more likely to report you to social services if they saw an unsupervised child out in the garden at 3am. Reporting a child at risk is not being a busybody.

Surely with that set up the best plan is to have the girls sharing a room, baby in box room but sharing with you on the nights DSS stays? I think what you're suggesting is frankly outrageous 😳

That's what we're currently doing but definitely not sustainable.

@imabusybee

Surely with that set up the best plan is to have the girls sharing a room, baby in box room but sharing with you on the nights DSS stays? I think what you're suggesting is frankly outrageous 😳

Yes what exactly is the problem with this set up? I'd certainly think SS would take a dim view of a child sleeping in a shed. Whatever smart name you call it, glamping pod, shepherds hut, whatever. It's still a bloody shed, illegal and pretty shit parenting.

Why isn't current arrangement sustainable?

Because we're sleeping in the dining room (which some in the household including DSS find awkward). And because what will happen when the baby gets older?

@Fressia123

Because we're sleeping in the dining room (which some in the household including DSS find awkward). And because what will happen when the baby gets older?

Why are you sleeping in the dining room? 2 good sized bedrooms = one for you and one for the girls, box room for baby except 8 nights baby is in with you either in your bed or one of you sleeps on sofa (buy a nice sofa bed?) to make room? Definitely more doable, sustainable and just the best option for everyone surely? I have a 2 and 3 year old and they sleep in our bed every so often with bad dreams/illness. In a few years DSS might not want to sleepover so the baby, now a small child, has their room to themselves.

If you can't provide a secure safe and nice place for DSS to stay perhaps he shouldn't be staying with you at all? Why didn't you plan for this when you bought the house?

Being nosey and looking in your neighbours garden at 3am is being a busybody , only thing I’m doing at 3am is sleeping .
What people get up to on their own property is none of my business.

@Fressia123

Because we're sleeping in the dining room (which some in the household including DSS find awkward). And because what will happen when the baby gets older?

Why have you got such a peculiar arrangement when there's a perfectly easy alternative?

When DSS (and the rest) sleep here we sleep in the dining room. When DSS isn't her the baby sleeps in the girls' room.

The girls' room arrangement isn't permanent and thus seems a itsy bit wrong that the one permanent child in this household doesn't have his own room.

@PucePanther That is an unusual approach. I have come across annexes with permanent occupation not requiring pp because they are classed as ancillary - no kitchen etc.