Victorian 3 bed mid terrace straight onto ginnel, no garden but good size back yard with brick walls 9ft high, can I just put a glass roof on it

[Alijaynecam]

Okay so we back straight onto a ginnel, but good yard with high walls, but no garden obviously, what we was thinking is literally sticking a polycarb or glass roof on the four high walls, going from over d/ room window to make it slipped slightly, maybe use as a kitchen return? We do have a front garden so wouldn't be gardenless! I had also thought about knocking out the understair cupboard, and maybe having a one wall kitchen that would go into this space where the galley kitchen walls
and understair cupboard would be gone to then run through into the dining room, I believe it's stud work upstairs? Though cupboard under
stairs is brick, house built 1890s, decisions decisions!

Wouldn't it depend on who owns those boundary walls? You couldn't attach anything to any wall you don't own?

Wouldn’t that be phenomenally hot?

Plus what about drainage?

You know half of Mumsnet is going to be asking what a gunnel is…

Ginnel. Even autocorrect is confused.

I know what a gunnel is AND I know what a ginnel is!

Where do you live? The way temperatures are going, anywhere south of Manchester it would be unusable for months of the year. And it wouldn't be a simple job if done properly.

No, you can’t!

Lots of issues would prevent this being possible or a good idea. There are planning problems (this would need planning permission) with covering outside space with building works, re percentages covered and overdevelopment. The new room would require a raft of building regs, so foundations to the external walls which would likely require rebuilding, party wall agreements, insulation of outside walls, rainwater. The actual building work would be expensive due to access. It is unlikely to work. And definitely would be expensive and probably devalue the property.

Googling “ginnel” brings up a terrifying and expensive rabbit bear thing. I don’t think you could build on that

Just to say the back yard is 2.5 metre wide x 4.5 metres from d/ room window to back gate wall ( brick)

How long is the yard? You could probably extend usability of the space with an awning or something? I love what people do with yard type back gardens and would be itching to do something that made a flexible outdoor space!

You lost me at "we was" 😔

Not quite the same but mil has put a glass awning from her kitten to boundary which covers the side return. It is only attached to her kitchen wall though and not the boundary wall as it is supported by metal columns in the boundary which also work as down pipes

Patio doors from the dining room and awning or metal pergola over part of the yard? A plus for this winter with expensive electricity bills looming you could line dry washing under cover - I do this all winter through as we have an outside covered area. I do finish things inside/in dryer but get 90% of the water outside.

Stormelf, does the kitten stand still long enough to make it workable. .

Your MIL's kitten must be very strong and not be able move about much. Personally, I think it's a really cruel thing to do and if I knew her I would report her to the RSPCA.

Pretty sure not, as per PPs. And is there a door in the wall somewhere - otherwise no fire escape route out the back? For that reason alone it seems mad!

I would imagine it would need planning permission and a party wall agreement if the other wall is next door. It would have to be an independent conservatory if polycarbonate. If you want to open it up to the kitchen you will need a proper roof which could be fancy glass or skylights for building regs. Polycarbonate has no insulation qualities really so it will be freezing in winter, scorching in summer and very loud when it rains.

Rude

I have a polycarb roof on the pergola outside the patio doors. It’s too hot to sit under.
great for reading a book under in the drizzle on a not too warm day though.

I'm just here to genuinely find out what a ginnel is!

I don't think you'll be considered a great loss. Rude.

I'd be surprised if the walls were strong enough to withstand the forces on them when the roof's on, wind for example. A structural engineer could do the calcs and and draw up a design. You could be the north's first banana growers.
I am down with the northen lingo.

I would get a good size awning, easily done yourself. Then line the yard with raised railway sleeper or something similar flower beds and paint the walls maybe attach some ceramic plates, go a bit Mediterranean. Encourage some plants to grow up the poles of the awning in tubs.