Taylor Made Construction (UK) Ltd

• Planning
• Building Control

• Planning Permission – good plans shape good decisions

  Most major changes to your home, such as an extension or conversion need planning permission, however there are some changes for which you don’t need planning permission. The rules on this changed in October 2008. To seek planning permission, you apply to your local planning authority, detailing the improvements or renovations you wish to make. If the planning permission application is in line with the local authority’s plans for developments, you can usually expect to receive planning permission within eight weeks. As well as obtaining planning permission, you may also need building regulations approval.

  Bringing the future into the present

  Taylor Made Construction will visit you free of charge to initiate the first steps of the planning process and drawings.

  We will discuss with you your ideas for your desired project along with providing you with our advice or suggestions to ensure you have what you want and also will be approved by your local council.

  Taylor Made Construction will survey, measure up your home and design this based on your requirements. Once this is approved by you it will then be submitted to the local planning authority. Taylor Made Construction can oversee the approval process and will answer all council queries along with making any necessary adjustments if required.

  Many properties will have wall and/or floors shared with neighbours. We can tell you if a party wall agreement is necessary, and then guide you through the process of obtaining these agreements.

• Building Regulations

  Conservatories are normally exempt when they meet a number of conditions:

  • They are built at ground level and are less than 30 square metres in floor area.
  • At least half of the new wall and three quarters of the roof is either glazed or translucent material.
  • The conservatory is separated from the house by external quality door(s).
  • Glazing and any fixed electrical installations comply with the applicable building regulations requirements (see below).

  You are advised not to construct conservatories where they will restrict ladder access to windows serving rooms in roof or loft conversions, particularly if any of the windows are intended to help escape or rescue if there is a fire.

  Any new structural opening between the conservatory and the existing house will require building regulations approval, even if the conservatory itself is an exempt structure.

  Structural modifications

  Building Regulation consent will always be required where it is necessary to form a new or wider opening in the original house wall. This is because carrying out this type of work is a structural alteration. Your local building control department have to examine the supporting beam or lintel to confirm if it is of suitable size and fire proof.

  Floor insulation & building regulations

  If you are adding extra insulation to your floors, the work will need to comply with the relevant Building Regulations for where you live. Your installer will normally arrange this for you but if you are doing it yourself, it is your responsibility to comply.

  If you live in England or Wales, the floor should achieve a U-value of 0.25 W/m2K or less, if possible. The U-value is a measure of how quickly heat will travel through the floor. To achieve this standard you will normally need at least 70mm of high-performance foam insulation, or 150mm of mineral wool, but this will vary depending on floor type, shape and size.
  If you are replacing at least half of a floor then you have to insulate to these standards whether you planned to or not.
  For further information, and for regulations in Northern Ireland and Scotland, we recommend that you contact your local Building Control Office before starting work

  Always check current building regulations and requirements with your local authority.

Disclaimer:

These notes are for your guidance and information only. For the avoidance of doubt please contact your local planning and building regulations authority before undertaking any work.