Combining two adjoining properties…

[AlarminglyAwful]

We live in a conservation area in a tiny cottage. We love the village but have massively outgrown our tiny two up two down. Next door has come on the market. It’s very much a doer upper so the asking price is very low (indeed lower than we paid for ours, the exact same cottage, 7 years ago).

If we were to be able to mortgage it, what is the likelihood that we would be granted planning permission to turn two cottages into one? Both are mid-terrace. It would be possible to do with no external changes in theory.

A google search suggests it’s doable but has anyone got any experience? I can’t really get my head around the logistics of it all if I’m honest!

No direct experience but expect to have to keep the current facade, may have two front doors but inside should be possible to merge within reason.

Someone I know did this. It was great, and the council tax was banded to be a little less than it would have been for 2 x the individual property.

We did this. Knocked through internally but looks the same externally.

I think you would need planning permission which would take about three months for a decision. I guess you could buy but have a plan b for what to do if unsuccessful

Would depend a lot on the rules applying to that conservation area as they vary- for example our Article 4 restrictions largely relate to the borders ( fences and hedges and trees) vs the houses themselves whereas in some conservation areas you can’t even change the windows. I would approach the planning department or a planning consultant and get concrete advice.

Generally in England, converting 2 houses to one doesn't need planning permission as they are in the same use class. However, some Councils interpret the rules differently, and some may impose tighter rules to prevent this (Article 4 Directions).
PP may be required if external alterations are required for the conversion to be carried out - especially in a Conservation Area.
If you are in an area where PP isn't required, I would advise that you apply for a Certificate of Lawfulness to save problems when you come to sell.
I am assuming that neither property is Listed.

John Darwin approves.

We're right in the middle of this now, no external changes so no planning permission needed. We're in a conservation area too. Just working through the process of combining the two titles onto a single mortgage, but all fairly straightforward so far.

I know someone who did this, neighbours became a couple then decided to knock through (could have been a romantic novel!).
Old stone cottages, single storey with one loft room each. It took a while but they did it and it worked out much better for them than selling and moving.
Not sure about planning permission but I believe it's less strict if you're not extending or altering the outside.

Love this story but I think I'd just have put in a lockable internal door 😂