ETC

Nothing wrong with it. You need a 450mmx750mm hole to get through. If you’ve got that you should be fine. Cut out a piece of cardboard 450x750 - if that can get through it should be ok.

Exactly what I’ve designed. (apart from the horrible timber cladding - should have used burnt larch).

The wider you go the shallower the roof pitch unfortunately. Of course the ultimate is to have a complete flat roof - no height issues anywhere. I had thought of this and there are plenty of examples out there of modern houses with flat roofs but I would only suggest this if I couldn’t get a pitched roof to work. There is also the possibility of having a wide dormer window which gives increased head height but it might not look great. Don’t worry - I still have a few more things to think about. Watch this space.

Or…..

Might work?

Here goes. Option 2. Still as tight as a mat’s chuff.

It would. Leave it with me.

If you’re happy with everything except the utility plow on - BH can help with the layout. Have you got Building Regulations Approval? And who is your “architect”?

He could have put a wind post in. I’m presuming the pier is acting as a buttress to the external wall.

You have two choices if the wall isn’t structural. 1. move the wall between the utility and kitchen out to give you the space you need or 2. forget about building the wall (as long as it’s not structural) and incorporating the washing machine and tumble drier into the kitchen layout.

From your earlier post your maximum ridge height is 5.7m. This is quite low to get any accommodation in using a pitched roof. I did have a go earlier and it wasn’t looking great. I’ll have another go and see what I can do. If you had a completely flat roof you’d be grand but I’m not a great fan of a complete house done with a flat roof.

I’m sorry but your original plan is a terrible waste of space! An awful lot of circulation area compared to accommodation. This could have been a simple lovely open plan living area.

Which bits are built and which are yet to be built?

There wasn’t an architect within a mile of this plan - terrible!!!

First Option. As tight as a nat’s chuff.

Open up the ceiling in the GF room and take a look. Agree with @ProDave probably a failed or failing lintel.

Nice but doesn’t inspire me - sorry.

Feel free to post some pictures/plans.

Leave it with me. You’ll need to be able to drive into/onto your site and turn - not a problem - there’s plenty of space to do this. Do you have a list of rooms you’d like? I’m not a fan of a basement if it can be avoided - purely on cost and I’m not sure if there is a need to go upstairs but let’s see what happens as the design develops.

What’s the issue? You need a 450mm x 750mm (to get the 0.33m2 requirement) clear opening located between 800mm and 1100mm above FFL. If the hinge is an issue by reducing the clear opening just get the hinge moved to give you the clear opening. It’s very easy to do and takes a few minutes to do. Problem solved!

In progress.

The plot is big enough for a decent sized house plus garage and still leave space over for a garden.

The amount of protection you need will depend on how high above ground level the final storey is. You will more than likely be asked to provide a protected stairwell where all doors to habitable rooms will need to be fire doors. Check out the. Approved Document for your scenario.