Do you want the big family home of your dreams? You can renovate and redecorate, but these tactics only go so far. For the ultimate results, you need to extend your property and add more rooms and floor space.
To do this, you must apply for planning permission. Any building work that isn’t sanctioned by the council will be torn down, and you could be fined. Unfortunately, thousands of applications are rejected in the UK every year, and this without factoring in the high costs involved in securing planning.
If you put your hat in the ring, you want to make sure you secure the rights to build. While nothing guaranteed, the following pointers will boost your chances.
Craft Quality Designs
The big issue applicants face is to show the local authority, and your neighbours, that your extension won’t impact nearby properties or the owner’s privacy. Therefore, your plans should include the right scaling and a smart layout if it’s a small project or a big one. By doing this, you’ll ease the council’s concerns and the rest of the community. Unless you’re an expert modeller, you will probably need to research architecture companies for hire. With their visualisation and technology processes, your designs will be incredibly well-crafted and presented.
Research Policies
It’s worth noting that there are tonnes of policies that your local authority will throw at you when you go to see them about the prospect of obtaining planning permission. While, in a perfect world, you’d outline practices to deal with all of them, life’s too short. Plus, not all of the policies will relate to your building work, which is a relevant point to remember. With this in mind, you should research the things that relate to your projects, such as a lack of sunlight or noise disturbance. If you can highlight why these issues won’t occur, you’ll be more likely to be approved.
Speak To Your Neighbours
The key is to understand who can help your application and who can harm it. Although developing a strong relationship with the council will help, it won’t guarantee success. Why? It’s because your neighbours may object, and their objections carry a lot of weight. Some will do it if planned building works take them by surprise. The shock will make them react with a firm no. Therefore, you shouldn’t try and pull a fast one. Be open and honest so that the community knows you have nothing to hide.
Show Them Why It’s In Their Interests
Of course, you may live next to people who say no because they don’t like the idea of a neighbour improving their lifestyle. If you assume this is the case, the trick is to show them what they get out of your renovation project. For example, securing planning permission sets a precedent for the entire neighbourhood. Therefore, the value of their property will rise in line with yours as estate agents will see the potential for adding more room.
Do you desperately want planning permission? How will you try and obtain it to enhance your home?