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I've tried several times to get hold of the planner for the area but to no avail. I keep ringing the council offices and explain my query (i.e. do I need planning permission to remove the chimney?) and get put through to voicemails. I have left voicemails and emails for the guy in question but he hasn't got back to me. Any ideas on what I can do to get them to come back to me? Surely they, or someone else in the council, are obilged to provide the public with answers to queries like this?
I did get one guy on the phone for a few minutes but he seemed a bit clueless, said it wasnt a black and white issue - depends on the change to the appearance of the house, but 'youd be best putting it in with your application for the extension'. What kind of an answer is that to be giving - what if I wasn't applying for an extension?
I explained that the chimney is barely visible from the outside, and as its the end of a cul-de-sac and there is a wall separating ours with the next estate on the same side as the chimney, the only place our chimney can be seen is from the house directly opposite, and then its only partial. Guy said this would give it a better chance but nothing conclusive. I put this and a photo in an email to the planner but no reply.
My builder friend who will be helping with the removal reckons it is fine, but he'll mention it to a structural engineer just in case. Need to get it removed asap to allow us to do all the work upstairs....reckon if it does require permission we'll have to put in a steel support to prop the outer chimney stack up, and then remove the internal parts (could knock the outer parts if approval was granted).
As for an architect - still trying to source one - want to get one on personal recommendation as I just need them for a bit of design advice and then the drawings for the application so don't want to pay arm and a leg for this. The guy my builder friend normally uses is having a bypass. He would have done what I need for €1200 through the builder, so am looking for something along those lines.