Approaching neighbour about planning permission

[RevJamesFlynn]

I want to convert the shed in the yard behind my house into a home office. The shed is built onto the back wall of the property, and over the wall is a neighbour's yard.

I'll need to raise the wall by about 3 feet for the conversion. One architect I've spoken to says that it's not necessary to get planning permission for this conversion - can this be true? It's the kind of thing I'd assume permission was required for.

Assuming it's something that requires permission, anyone got any experience of tips about how to approach the neighbour? I'm going to have to live beside them for the next few years after all - don't want to start things off on the wrong foot!

Thanks,
James

 

[ClubMan]

Presumably an architect should know the answer in this case? Some small developments are exempt from planning permission. Might be worth reviewing the information on and perhaps getting more information from your local authority before doing anything.

 

[sunnyday]

There are many types of developement exempt from planning permission. I know that the County Council for my area have a planning section on their website, which includes info on exemptions eg.;

cartilage of a house”
CLASS 1
The extension of a
house,by the construction
or erection of an extension
(including a conservatory)
to the rear of the house or
by the conversion for use
as part of the house of any
garage, store, shed or other
similar structure attached
to the rear or to the side
of the house
1(a) Where the house has not been extended previously, the floor area of
any such extension shall not exceed 40m2
(b) Subject to paragraph (a), where the house is terraced or semidetached,
the floor area of any extension above ground level shall not
exceed 12m2
(c) Subject to paragraph (a), where the house is detached the floor area
of any extension above ground level shall not exceed 20m2
2(a) Where the house has been extended previously, the floor area of any
such extension, taken together with the floor area of any previous
extension or extensions, including those for which planning permission
has been obtained shall not exceed 40m2
(b) Subject to paragraph (a), where the house is terraced or semidetached
and has been extended previously, the floor area of any
extension above ground level, including those for which planning
permission has been obtained, shall not exceed 12 m2
(c) Subject to paragraph (a), where the dwelling house is detached and
has been extended previously, the floor area of any extension above
ground level, taken together with the floor area of any previous
extensions or extensions above ground level, shall not exceed 20 m2
3. Any above ground floor extension shall be a distance of not less that 2
metres from any party boundary.
4 (a) Where the rear wall of the house does not include a gable, the
height of the walls of any such extension shall not exceed the height of
the rear wall of the house.
(b) Where the rear wall of the house includes a gable, the height of the
walls of any such extension shall not exceed the height of the side walls
of the house.
(c) The height of the highest part of the roof of any such extension shall
not exceed, in the case of a flat roofed extension, the height of the eaves
or parapet, as may be appropriate, or, in any other case, shall not exceed
the height of the highest part of the roof of the dwelling.
5 The construction or erection of any such extension to the rear of the
house shall not reduce the area of private open space, reserved
exclusively for the use of the occupants of the house, to the rear of the
house to less than 25 m2
6 (a) Any windows proposed, at ground floor level in any such
extension, shall not be less than 1m from the boundary it faces.
(b) Any windows proposed, above ground floor level in any such
extension shall not be less than 11m from the boundary it faces.
(c) Where the house is detached and the floor area of the extension above
ground level exceeds 12 m2 any window proposed at above ground level
shall not be less that 11m from the boundary it faces.
7 The roof of any such extension shall not be used as a balcony or roof
garden.

 

[Toby]

We gave both of our neighbours a copy of our plans before we applied for planning permission and they were both very appreciative of being asked. I think most people won't complain about something that doesn't have a major effect on their house and are very grateful to be informed in person. It seems inconsiderate to me not to tell a neighbour if you're planning some building work.