Cheesus

Thankyou, I tried to speak with the local fire officer via the FRS HQ, a lady came back to me after a week or so to tell me to contact my local authority! Looking at the lay of the land - access could be made over neighbours properties via alternative roads. One potential option could be the unmade road is 'L' shaped with a 90 degree bend after 38m, with the plot being a further 57m to the boundary of the plot (63m ish to the centre of the plot), perhaps the appliance could pull forward from the main road into the unmade road the 38m or so and stay there and run the hoses the remaining distance? Perhaps we will know what the council think when we get the consultation results back in a few more weeks time, or at least we hope so!

I think we probable have space for a 25,000L tank, no idea about putting it underground or overground (wombling free). It wouldn't be ideal but if it was the difference between getting something through and not we would go for it if it was an option and just work round it I would imagine.

Appreciate the feedback on both points. Firstly, reference bins - this is the relevent part of local planning policy I am told: With regards to fire engine access, this is the (fairly) recent application that was approved: https://planning.wakefield.gov.uk/online-applications/simpleSearchResults.do?action=firstPage Below is copied and pasted from the decision notice (I understand the manual for streets remains unchanged in relation to this): It is also noted that the proposed dwelling would be around 74m from the public highway and exceeds the recommended pumping and carrying distances for a fire appliance/refuse vehicle. The submitted highway statement states that it is proposed to install a fire sprinkler system within the new dwelling to negate the need for a large fire appliance to access the site. This satisfies the requirements in manual for streets. As noted with regards to outline consent 13/01088/OUT, it is recommended that this be secured by condition. Google earth shows this house as now built, obviously we don't know if there are any ongoing issues with BCO or not.

The site won't allow for the turning of a fire appliance. The council has recently approved an application for a newbuild on a plot with similar access, the application mitigated the lack of access with the sprinkler system so this is why we went down this route. With regards to bins, we need to find out if putting a bin enclosure half way from the proposed new house and the road is possible, dunno what other residents would say. Thanks

Thanks, I assume the BCO who signs off though will be bound by the findings of the various agencies who will be consulted during the actual planning process? It's all a bit difficult for the layman to get his head round and not helped by lots of different people having differences of opinion, obviously I will pay proffessionals when the time comes but at the moment I am just trying to tiptoe my way through things without throwing too much money at it and afterall I am just a normal fella with a large back garden with some potential to build on it. One piece of advise I did receive from a builder friend was if we should ever be in a position to have a piece of land with planning permission, just sell it and let somebdoy else have the hassle - nothing worse than having your life savings invested in a pile of mud and being reliant on others. This obviously will rob us of the oppertunity to self build.

Just a little update on this one on the offchance anybody is interested.... We had the fella from the council planning department round last week to do his site visit as part of our pre planning consultation. Now I am not sure how much they give away when inspecting and how much things like this will come down to his opinion or the opinion of the various agencies (Water company, Coal Board, Highways etc.) but he was very much of the opinion that if a rule/guideline/policy couldn't be complied with it would be a case of 'what are the real world implications of this' rather than a binary yes/no situation. The bins for example, he said so what to having to drag them longer than is ideal, the next plot along do it already and with regards to the lack of access for the fire appliance, as long as it is mitigated by an approved sprinkler system maybe with a water tank on the plot then this is likely to suffice in his opinion. Now I know he may just be saying what we want to hear to avoid any awkward conversations but I suppose we will know more in the next month or so when the report is likely to come back at which point I will update further. Thanks.

Thanks, so there is a chance of this happening - however slim. Does this mean that in theory we could move in but we wouln't have any buildings/contents insurance until 10 years passed? I presume there would also be consequences when it came to obtaining a mortage, we can finance probably around 75% of the approximate budget build cost without the need for a mortgage but we would need some form of finance to take us to completion. Should we get planning then we would need to think very carefully.

Thanks for the replies, it does seem like common sense when explained as it has been above- hopefully this prevails if we can mitigate the risk. It does sound though as if there is a chance we could sink all our money into building a house only to find out we can't get past building control and then we would be absolutely stuffed if this was the case.

It would be a backland development. We are about to go ahead with a planning consultation, there are a couple of potential issues with the plot (access for fire engine mainly) so it could all be a non starter - we have been advised to have the consultation and see what objections the planning department come back with, then assuming we get a positive outcome go ahead with outline. We have not done anyhting like this before though and we are learning as we go along. Thanks.

Thanks to everybody who has taken the time to reply, I appreciate the comments. Just to address a few: This is basically our first fag packet drawing somebody has kindly put into CAD for us, we fully intend on getting an architect onboard - once we hopefully get PP granted for the footprint/size we want we will move forward with this. Good point about the downstairs toilet, although we don't have one now and we do send guests upstairs it would be a good option to incorporate. The kitchen is roughly the same size as our current kitchen, thats part of a kitchen diner. The idea is to have this and the main living room open plan. North is towards around 2 o'clock as you look at the plan. We would ideally like a wood burner so the chimney would be for that. The main point obvously is that it's just for ideas at this stage - in advance of getting proffesional advice/input. It's likely to be 2-3 of months before we are likely to get a decison on planning and we don't really want to spend much money until we hopefully get a positive outcome to the application. Thanks again.

Hi all, just having a bit of a play about in advance of getting in an architect / designer and applying for planning permission for a newbuild - this is our first rough draft for the downstairs. Property is hopefully going to be 1.5 storey built with attic trusses so the upstairs will be 1 or 2 bedroms plus bathroom. Any initial thoughts or comments on this very rough draft please? One thing to note is that the left hand side as you look will not be allowed to have any clear windows, any windows will need to be frosted due to the nature of the plot so we thought best to use the majority of that wall as our kitchen. Thanks

Thanks for the replies all, certainly some food for thought.

Thanks for the reply. Since my post the Fire Service has replied back in much the same vein as your reply - speak with BC. I think there could be enough room for a 3 point turn infront/at the side of the development, we have commisioned a highways consultant to do a report for us so hopefully a combination of this, a sprinker system and maybe even a water tank may provide sufficient mitigation to the risk. Once the highways report is completed we will be having a pre-planning consultaiton hopefully to get some clarity.

Yes, making it 1.5 storey. For a few reasons demolish and start from scratch isn't really an option for us. Thanks

Thanks, the bungalow itself is fine - it's 1970s and was built by a very reputable local builder so no obvious reasons why it wouldn't work structurally (obviously we can't say for certain until the survey is done) it's just smaller than needed to do what we want to do. We have plenty of room to extend on the ground floor (and a fair size garden) but we can't really make the design work to keep 2x seperate living spaces.

Sorry, to be clear bedroom 1 would be part of the annex and the annex us planned to be downstairs only. We are planning on an increase in the roof height of around 2m using attic trusses in the new roof to enable a bedroom, bathroom + whatever in the upstairs, effectivly 1.5 storey as you say. Thanks.

Hi all, we are in the process of looking to rennovate a 2 bedroom bungalow to incorporate an annex/granny flat plus a roof lift. We have just started with very rough sketching prior to appointing an architect and this is what we have so far (we need to add a staircase). We are considering having a vaulted ceiling over the end of the living/dining room but this would depend on cost and if we can accomodate a bedroom, dressing room and house bathroom upstairs plus the steps. The annex would be self contained to the left. The first rough draft of the downstairs floor plan is below (measurements are approximate at the moment but the gist of it is hopefully clear). Does anybody have any input on what we have done so far please and any comments on how to design the upstairs including steps? We're hoping to give the architect as much to go on as possible. Thanks.

Just to provide a little sort of update on this, I have emailed the fire service safety officer (their website has a contact for developers/housebuilders to ask fire safety questions), they replied in a couple of days advising that they do not get invovled and this is a job for building control only. We have also been shown a recent planning application that was approved in fairly similar circumstances within our local area, the planning application contained a report from a highways consultant that advised that the dwelling would be fitted with an approved sprinkler system to mitigate against lack of access. Planning was granted with the condition the sprinker was fitted and kept. I am not sure if planning applications work on a 'precedent' basis or if every case is assesed individually.

Thanks, it's refered to in Approved Document B.

Thankyou for the reply, we think it's worth a speculative punt - given it's 50% our land already and the puchase of next door would only be subject to obtaining planning. See what comes back from the planning officer and then approach BCO and/or fire service for their comments.

Thanks, so there may be some hope? Time will tell I suppose.

Thanks for the reply Dave, with regards to the bins - it's just been flagged up by the planning consultant as a potential issue prior to the planning consultation and then the applicaton proper in time. We will take not on bin day this week what others do. My next door neighbour appears to have access, the point of access being within the potential plot. Thanks.

Thanks for the reply, the single track unadopted road is around 80m long and we would be right at the end of it - there are 2 other properties built in the same fashion but slightly closer to the end of the unadopted road but still probably 50-60m from the main road. The other properties have been built 30+ years so presumably were built under previous, less strict planning laws and there is limited information on the planning portal in relation to them. We haven't ever noticed what the current residents do with their bins but we will make a note on this weeks bin day. I would agree that the planning consultant is guessing at this stage, until the applicaiton goes in we won't know for sure what the planning offices concerns are, we're just trying to manage expectations with regards to the likelyhood of being able to build 'our' house.

Thanks for the reply, I know it will vary from region to region but this is what we were hoping to hear! Obviously there will be cost to this but if this is the case for us as well it gives us some hope!

Hi all, new poster here - hope somebody can offer some opinions please on this situation. We have a fairly long garden and have agreed in principle to purchase a section of our next door neighbours garden with a view to combining them both into one plot for a self build house / bungalow to live in. Access to the gardens is via a single track, unadopted road that ends at what is currently my neighbours garden (but will be part of the plot). We have asked a planning consultant to review the site and he has advised that the main issue is likely to be access for a fire engine as the track is around 80m long and there is no room for turning and the wheelie bin collection. They have suggested we put in for a pre-planning consultation with our council for their feedback. My question is, does anybody have any experience with finding alternative solutions to mitigate the lack of access for the fire engine in the form of either sprinklers or fire hydrants - my consultant used to work for the planning office and he thinks he has approved one previously but can't recall the details. Information online seems fairly vauge but approved document B suggests we 'should' have a turning circle of 19m - but it doesn't seem difinitive and our local fire service don't offer any information. We are also confused as to who's decision the fire engine access actually is, is it the planning office or building control? Is there any chance that if somehow we actually get planning permission, build what is approved but then the building inspector won't pass it? The plot itself is 33m x 17m so not big enough for an actual turning circle, but potentially big enough for the appliance to pull up the side and reverse back infront - unlikely this would be suffucient but once we have the initial feedback from the planning consultaiton we will look at appointing a highways consultant to do a full report. If by chance we jump the fire engine hurdle then it's on to the bin wagon!