Loz100

Thank you for your clarification it is greatly appreciated. x

Once again many thanks x

Honestly no need to apologise. My posts are pretty lengthy so totally understand. The developers have also now submitted several plans which confuses me every time as I have to start again. Thank you so much, the way you word things are far easier to understand than our local planning officer. The gym / study room is fully heated and has all the appropriate insulation etc as any other room within our home. It had to have special boarding etc as it was next to the garage. To be fair when it was a gym I used it several hours a day for yoga & meditation and my husband & eldest daughter also used for another hour or do a day. Surely that is a used and lovable space? So my best option is to argue that the side elevation is the principle light source for the bedroom making it the primary window ? The front window allows light more into the dressing room and therefore a 12m distance should be present for the side elevation one? Is this because the roof apex will only be 5.5m away from that window? Kind regards Lorraine

Hi Thank you for you response. I have posted several threads as they keep changing their development plans and layout etc and I am not sure how to delete update existing posts so apologies. I have never referred to my home as a bungalow just that a bungalow is to be built next to us. The classification of a habitable room is very important as our local council stipulates a minimum distance from a habitable room window to a blank wall of 12m. Therefore if the gym qualifies as a habitable room then a 2m gap is insufficient from that window. With regards to bedroom 2 a stud wall was put up to create a dressing room where the en-suite ends to the outer wall. This was checked with the building’s inspector at the time of the build and he advised that we did not need to do anything as it was a stud wall and was not near any stairs and each room had a window so we did check at build stage. We have always tried to ensure we follow guidelines etc. The council are now saying that the would have required planning consent which I do not understand. The room layouts are exactly as they are when the completion certificate was provided so surely if that wall was not compliant why was a certificate granted? Also, we are not opposed to the development of 3 bungalows and have even offered for them to obscure glaze 2 of the side bedroom windows to offer them more flexibility when siting their habitable rooms so we are trying to be flexible. We have put forward a plan we would have no objections to at all but a wall or roof line 2m from our bedroom and study is oppressive and greatly impacts the outlook which all habitable rooms should be offered. Therefore, I am trying to find guidance on: *Is a gym considered a habitable room? *Would we require planning permission to change a room usage from a gym to a study? Based on note 2 in the planning acceptance. *Should the build have been issued a completion certificate if it did not exactly mirror the plans sited? *As the wall has been there for over 5 years are there are regulations or exemptions that would mean it is a valid wall? (Hope that makes sense). *Would we require planning permission to have built that wall after the extension? I am very grateful for you taking time out of your day to offer me guidance. Kind regards Lorraine

They referenced this part of our planning acceptance saying that a room usage cannot be changed without planning approval ie gym to a study.

Hi Thank you so much. The land has been an open space for decades so in all honesty we never believed it would be built on hence our side elevation windows. That aspect has had a right to light for many many decades. It was used as my yoga room but I am unable to do that now and when covid hit my husband started working from home and needed a study. No ulterior motive at planning just circumstances have changed.

It was used as my yoga room but I am unable to do that now and when covid hit my husband started working from home and needed a study. No ulterior motive at planning just circumstances have changed.

We do not currently have any neighbours our house is set alone with land adjacent to us.

It is not a 2m fence. They are building a bungalow with a height of 5.3m. This will breach the right to light guidance.That is not considered at planning though so just trying to ascertain whether my study which used to be a gym used for my yoga and Pilates can be classified as a habitable room. Or guidance regarding whether planning permission would have been required to change room usage from a gym to a study when it meets all appropriate building regs.

The original bedroom window sills are 180mm deep and the new bedroom windows are 230mm deep. It is a bungalow so overlooking is not a concern but the lack of light and oppressive feel are more of a concern. This is not a landing or bathroom window but a room where my husband can spend 10 hours a day. 🥹 When we extended our property years ago our architect listed an additional room on our ground floor as a gym. It is actually used as a home office for my husband but the council have advised that it was stipulated as a gym at planning and therefore is not entitled to the same minimum distancing as a habitable room. I am beside myself as my husband can spend 10 hrs a day in there and the want to build a bungalow 2m from our window.

When we extended our property years ago our architect listed an additional room on our ground floor as a gym. It is actually used as a home office for my husband but the council have advised that it was stipulated as a gym at planning and therefore is not entitled to the same minimum distancing as a habitable room. I am beside myself as my husband can spend 10 hrs a day in there and the want to build a bungalow 2m from our window.

When we extended our property years ago our architect listed an additional room on our ground floor as a gym. It is actually used as a home office for my husband but the council have advised that it was stipulated as a gym at planning and therefore is not entitled to the same minimum distancing as a habitable room. I am beside myself as my husband can spend 10 hrs a day in there and the want to build a bungalow 2m from our window. The internal windowsill depth is 200mm The builder knew we may be using the room as a study in the future and it was being used as a study when the completion certificate was issued. It has a full radiator, electrical sockets, lighting & carpeting etc.

Hi Thank you for your reply. The room is insulated and heated. It is like any other room in our house. carpeted, plastered lighting etc etc It is has been used as my husbands office since covid lock down as he had to work from home & is often in there for 10 hours a day. The council however are stating that a gym which is one of the rooms former uses is not entitled to the same rights as a study and it would have to be listed as a study at the time of planning consent. A hobby room is offered the same rights as a study so I cannot see the reasoning behind this. It meets all building regulations for a study and has always been used for many hours a day even when it was a gym. I thought that was part of the definition of a habitable room so now I am just confused. I appreciate you taking time out of your day to assist me. Many thanks

When we extended our property years ago our architect listed an additional room on our ground floor as a gym. It is actually used as a home office for my husband but the council have advised that it was stipulated as a gym at planning and therefore is not entitled to the same minimum distancing as a habitable room. I am beside myself as my husband can spend 10 hrs a day in there and the want to build a bungalow 2m from our window.

So a gym is not considered a habitable room? But a hobby room is? I am trying to ascertain whether a gym would still be considered a habitable room as when it was a gym we spent hours in there between the household members.