TheRivieraKid

Never heard of Durisol blocks. Looks interesting. I wonder what the long term integrity of those would be. Definitely one to consider. Thanks, Olf. There is actually a manhole cover around 2m away from the back wall in the middle of the potential extension. We have local searches raised, so I assume this will detail whether that is a public sewer line or not? Edit: I actually have a set of drawings from one of the neighbouring houses that had a similar extension a few years ago. I guess I can just show this to builders to get a rough idea.

Thanks for the info, that’s really helpful. I told my wife I could probably dig out the foundations to save some money. I think she got a bit scared at that point! Do you think it’s worth getting an architect to come and have a look at the site to get a better idea of local costings, or do you think that’s just wasting money? I’m really worried that it may end up costing more than we can afford, so would rather know before we exchange contracts.

Hi all, I'm after some advice from the experienced folks here. I don't want to spend money unnecessarily on architect etc. as we're in the early stages of buying a renovation project house in the South East. It's currently a three bed chalet that we'd be looking to extend back, double storey, 8m wide x 3m deep to stay within PD. This would create a larger kitchen and utility room, separate playroom and an additional bedroom + en suite upstairs. The build would be a rendered finish so I assume block work instead of brick. all in 48sqm on a 24sqm footprint. Pitched roof and concrete tiles to match existing etc. I want to know if it's actually possible for this to come in at £2000/sqm (not including kitchen and bathroom) or is it totally unrealistic? We have an extra £100k on top of the purchase costs but that's really it. The plan would be to leave the en suite room empty to fit a year or so down the line, and the kitchen can be financed separately. I understand I'm asking how long a piece of string is, but I'd rather know the feasibility now before we get any further in the purchase process. Lastly, I'm quite handy at DIY stuff, and wondering what kind of labour I can put in myself to bring the overall costs down? Thanks

If you're planning an extension that is fully compliant under PD, with no requirement for prior notification and no other council restrictions, is there any benefit to applying for a Lawful Development Certificate? It feels to me that applying for one just gives the council an opportunity to apply a restriction to something they might not like the look of, even if it meets permitted development rights. I'm fairly new to this, and still at an early research stage.

Thanks. £110psf sounds really reasonable. How much would you think the cost would increase without your own labour?

Thanks for the replies! It’s a 0.2 acre plot in a really nice area. A four bed detached with a similar size garden goes for around 650-700 range. I’ve never done a self build but always loves the idea of it. As for mortgaging, I think it would be ok as it does have bricks on the exterior, and the agent says it has the PRC repair certificate (from the 1990’s, I believe). They seem quite certain that there’s no scope for loft conversion. I spoke to one structural engineer who didn’t even seem keen to have a look. Said these buildings can be a bit awkward and complex. If there was a way to build a loft without a full rebuild it might just about be viable. At £2k/sqm it would put the total cost quite a bit above the ceiling for the street. I’ll try and get hold of an architect, and I will probably be back with more questions.

Hi all, An opportunity has come up in my local area. A really, really nice plot that currently has a post-war prefab concrete bungalow. I don’t think there’s any realistic way to add a loft extension due to the structure, so potentially looking at knock down and rebuild. My issue is the property is priced at the top end of what you’d see conventional brick and mortar houses in the same area. £500k for a 2/3 bed in the south east. I have no idea how much it will cost to rebuild. We’d be wanting a 4-bed chalet, around 1600sqft. Would the build cost be reduced due to a property already being there i.e. gas/water/sewerage etc? Is it best to speak to a local architect or structural engineer? Will they be able to give me a ballpark build figure before going any further, or will we need to pay for that service first? thanks