Frequently Asked Questions

 Planning permission is not generally needed for internal alterations unless your home is listed. Homeowners will require Building Regulations approval and a Structural Engineer appointed to provide structural calculations. If you propose to work on the Party Wall, you must obtain permission from your neighbour. You may be eligible for a disabled facilities grant to provide disabled adaptions in your home. Grants are assessed and awarded by your local council. Contact me to discover how I can help you.

It depends on what you are proposing. Some extensions come under permitted development rights but must follow strict rules. I suggest you apply for a lawful development certificate before starting work to ensure your proposal is lawful. Your council will provide the correct paperwork if you wish to sell the property later.
A householder planning application is for extensions that do not fit the permitted development rules. You must apply for listed building consent alongside your householder planning application if you have a listed building. You must also apply for Building Regulations approval and possibly serve Party Wall notices. Contact me to discover how I can help you.

I am passionate about architecture and helping people. I get great satisfaction from listening and simply creating spaces for you. I enjoy seeing a design come to life, from your idea to your finished home.

 Building Regulations are rules and guidance to ensure your home is safe for you to live in. There are two parts to building regulations procedures. One is plan checking, and the second is site inspection. A building notice combines both all at once. The risk to you is that if you build something that does not comply, you will need to put it right before being granted a completion certificate. I thoroughly recommend the full plans approval route. Here your plans and information are checked before you build. Building begins after full plans approval or conditional approval. Contact me to discuss how I can help you provide the correct information.

 A self-contained annexe or granny flat must be lived in by a relative over 65 or a resident of the main house. The relative must be over 65 years of age. The definition of an annexe for Council Tax is that it has been built or adapted to use as separate accommodation and has cooking, toilet and washing facilities. It has a separate entrance to the main house, an external door or a door from a landing or hallway within the main home.

 My designs are exclusive to you based on your needs, so an early consultation is vital to understanding what spaces you need. 

It might be that your children have left home, and you want to provide space for an elderly relative.

Alternatively, you could be an older person wanting to convert extra space as living accommodation for your adult grandchildren.

Or you could require home remodelling to accommodate mobility issues to allow you to live a more independent or inclusive family life. 

You might benefit from moving your living spaces around to help combat loneliness.

Or you could need a sensory room or quiet space to decompress from modern life or promote wellness.