Planning permission for garden works?

[Rrrob]

I will try to explain as best as poss without a photo. If a photo would be useful I can add one (but would be v outing!).

Our house is about 12 steep steps higher than the road. The garage is next to the house but the level below. We have a tiered front garden in front of the house.

Access is a REAL problem. I’m currently bumping a double buggy up and down the 12 steps every day and it’s becoming too heavy.

Want to knock the garage down and put a sloped drive in but builders have said it would be too steep and would be structural (even though other houses have this, this is a fair point, it would be v steep). Second option is to create a zigzag U shaped slope up across the front garden.

Does anyone know if we need planning permission for this? Aside from going back in time and not buying the house, any bright ideas?

It sounds as though the sort of development you are considering could be described as engineering works which would require planning permission.

How much higher is your front door than the pavement - 12 steep steps could be 2m or more.

The only way really is to ask your local planning department for advice.

My local authority has an online permitted development form. You fill in all the details of what you want to do and submit, they will then tell you if it is permitted development or if planning is required. Check your council website to see if they have something similar.

Urg. Yes it’s higher than 2m. Moving house seems like an easier option at the moment!

Go onto your local authority website. Mine would allow this without planning but all councils differ. If you still aren't sure give them a ring to check.

If it’s just the buggy that’s the problem then I wouldn’t try and change anything. You’re probably looking at a year by the time you sort out what you want to do / get permissions / book in time with the correct tradespeople, by which point it probably won’t be a problem any more. Let alone the cost

Can’t you keep the buggy either in the car boot or in the garage, then just bring the kids out one at a time?

Alternatively, if you need to keep buggy indoors for whatever reason, just bring the buggy out first, then kids 1 at a time. Assuming you have twins (as I do) then you just need somewhere safe to contain them by the front door while you are sorting everyone out

Thanks @BasementIdeas yes twins. I’m not sure how safe the one at the bottom of the steps whilst we go up and get the other one. The other one could wait in the porch (but would need to lock the porch door and unlock as they can just about reach the handle).

We could keep the buggy in the garage but it is damp. We’ve prev had a damp proofing guy round (last year) but the logistics of getting them in/ out and up/ down steps safely put us off. We live on a relatively busy road and tbh our nanny has said she isn’t comfortable taking them down the steps, somehow holding both whilst opening the heavy/ old garage door etc. Sounds silly I know. She normally puts them in the pushchair with a book whilst she sorts herself out before going out (has a wee etc!).

I wonder if re-looking at damp proofing the garage is the way to go…

How old are they if they can reach the door handle? I’m guessing at least 18m and steady on their feet?

If so, even easier. Just leave kids in the porch, go down and set up buggy from garage then come back and get them. They sound like they’re old enough to walk down the steps holding your hands so can come together so no worries about leaving one at bottom of the steps alone (although they will be absolutely fine strapped in a buggy for the time it takes to walk up 12 steps and back!)

As for nanny going for a wee etc, what does she normally do when she needs to use the toilet? Why is it different when she’s about to go out? We used external childcare but I had a baby proof room that I would leave them in to pop to the loo etc

You could be describing our old house.

I pulled child out at bottom, tucked under my arm and hoiked the buggy up behind me. When I had two, I walked first one up, shoved through front door and went back for second.

Honestly? It passes frighteningly quickly and spending huge amounts of money for what is essentially a few years seems a bit mad. I get you though, I daydreamed of ways around it at the time.

When we finally left that house the kids were adults. You just adapt.

@GreenerWithTheScenery I particularly like the description of ‘shove through the front door’ as I currently tend to shove one in the porch, bang on the door for DH who wfh, and get the other one from the car.

Ok maybe I’m catastrophising and we can find a way to live with this after all…

[quote Rrrob]@GreenerWithTheScenery I particularly like the description of ‘shove through the front door’ as I currently tend to shove one in the porch, bang on the door for DH who wfh, and get the other one from the car.

Ok maybe I’m catastrophising and we can find a way to live with this after all…[/quote]
This was like out set up (not my house I add), I'd spend hours thinking of ways to install lifts in the garage or storage rooms at the side for prams etc. Looking back now I can laugh about it, it wasn't as easy as a level property but the quirks of it meant it also had amazing views so it kind of made up for it.

DH was a trained architectural technician so he'd humour me with sketches and then tell me how daft it would look and how expensive it would be etc.

The best advice I can offer is grin and bear it for now, and when they are old enough to toddle impress on them how they need to hold hands and rails down the steps. Before you know it they are thundering teenagers thumping up them with footballs.

Our NDN lived independently in the same style house until the day she died, 6 months after her 100th birthday. She flitted up and down those steps better than me!

Stick it out! The twins will be able to manage them quicker than you think and it could end up a lot if work and expensive for a smallish gain.

Ok ok you’ve convinced me and saved me a small fortune. Thank you!

Another possibility, our NDN has a lift. He has just moved into a care home but I might be cheeky and ask how he feels about us using it. We would need to temporarily remove a small piece of low wall between us (between the terrace on top of our garage and his front patio) but maybe it’s worth asking….

@Rrrob

Ok ok you’ve convinced me and saved me a small fortune. Thank you!

Another possibility, our NDN has a lift. He has just moved into a care home but I might be cheeky and ask how he feels about us using it. We would need to temporarily remove a small piece of low wall between us (between the terrace on top of our garage and his front patio) but maybe it’s worth asking….

Can't hurt to ask! I'd offer a few pounds towards the electric bill though (can't see it adding much for all that) and it will still be cheaper than building the equivalent af the Marble Arch Mound in your front garden 😂

Get a waterproof cupboard for the buggy in the garage. We have one for outside seating cushions. They stay dry all winter! Keep the buggy in that in the garage. Can’t work out logistics with DCs but I assume you can get to the garage from the house. It all sounds like a PITA really.

I haven't quite worked it out but it would be easier to solve the problem with kit. For example how about 2 IKEA plastic highchairs in the garage you can strap them into, or a play pen. Or a second double buggy. £100 or so is peanuts compared with engineering the steps.