TryC

Thanks! we already have planning permission. Neighbour would have been notified at that stage too. no objection. while I understand planning permission and PWA is totally different., they just asked us to carry on and made no indication that they had a problem with the proposed works. Yes, dissent is a scary word, and while they might not actually be unhappy about the works, it makes me think they are because they are dragging it out and being very elusive about it when we query it with them. They dance around the question, so now we know they're doing it on purpose and being plain spiteful.

thanks! I thought so too, but they're kicking up some kinda fuss when we aren't event touching the boundary wall and within our boundary. no over hang of gutters, nothing. Now if they don't let the bricklayer come onto their land, then they are the ones that have to look at overhand bricks forever. if they want to be that petty, because we're not paying for it to be rendered! I'm just confused as to why we are even at this point!

? I was under the impression without consent, you cannot just go ahead. we're not touching the garden wall/boundary wall...fixing or altering...I'm confused now

I'm not actually sure if that boundary wall has always been there or if the neighbour put it there to be honest. It has been there a good while. It is in good condition. we're digging within 3 metres of the boundary wall/line. the boundary wall is on a patio, again not sure if that was always there or if the neighbour did it. it slopes on one side that leads to the lower garden.

hi, we're not even touching the boundary line or building up to it, but will be digging within 3 metres of the boundry line. there is a boundry wall but that is on the neighbours side. we're not building or touching the boundry wall on their side. hope that makes sense

hi, yes, we've spoke about it multiple times and also told and spoken about this works in general since the start of the year. never an issue. spoke about responding to the PWA a few times and they have just lied to our faces, every time. because we're digging within 3 metres of the boundary line.

thanks! it is a one storey rear extension. I probably opened myself a can of worms doing a PWA as the builder and the architect said I didn't need one. But reading online, I felt I did. The party wall surveyor thought the same...while I know they could be saying that for the money, I truly do think we need one, and the surveyor we hired is honest. And while I understand the Adjoining neighbour is well within their right to look out for his property, I just don't understand why they cannot just be honest and upfront about it versus stabbing us in the back..that they wanted an Award. We just wanted to do the right thing for both parties, hence the PWA route. Knowing they were purposely going to dissent whilst telling us something else to our face is a bitter pill to swallow. Now they could delay the entire thing for months? to what gain?

Hi All, Can anyone advise in the process of dissent and how long it could take for an Award to be given. I'm at my wits end. Neighbour who was fine with our proposal of works had explicitly said all was fine until recently. And is now taking the coward's way out by avoiding us and basically taken us into dissent, and holding up our works. Any advice appreciated.

Hi, thanks! Can I please ask, was the person who capped it off supposed to provide me with any paperwork or certificate re the works done?

hi, the gas is isolated both in the garage and behind the old fireplace. The pipe has a cap on the end and is also disconnected in the garage. The pipework is just left in situ incase its needed again in the future.

hi, Yes, the gas pipe has been capped, and yes, the ventilation hole connects to fresh air 😀

hi, I took some more photos for your kind review.

hi, I'm not sure what you mean? the fireplace has been removed. but will check and see if I can get a better photo closer inside? would that help?

hi! Thanks. Just have these for now. will try getting more. Thanks again.

Hey All, Some advice please. The gas fire was removed and capped. We would like to remove the mantle/old fireplace surrounding completely and decorate. Would a builder do the removal or could a decorater do it? Also, guessing the middle part needs filling or does it need to be left so air flow can still go "up" or what not for the house to "breathe"/won't cause internal problems like damp our mold. If blocking it is OK, which would be the better option...blocking it with bricks or blocking it with wood and insulation? Any advice appreciated. Thanks!

hmm...curious why they said it was expensive to do it then. Should I insist they Tank?

Hey All, Any plumbers or bathfitters in this group? I just wanted to ask if it true that when fitting a bathtub you don't need to tank it? That you only need to tank of you're going for a shower or a wet room? I spoke to a builder today and when I mentioned waterproof membranes and tanked, he said no need for tanked (it adds to the cost),and only needed if you're having a shower only or wet room. Any advice would be appreciated

Hey All, An update and a query if I may! We're now working on 3.6m x6m extension, and the architect we're engaging with advised me that they spoke to a planner at the local council and the planner suggested that we apply for 'Prior Approval for a larger home extension' vs. the 'Householder Planning Approval' - and the architect therefore, recommended the former because a) the planning period is a fortnight less in time and b) it is cheaper. I did ask if he was suggesting this option because he was trying to save me money or perhaps he was just making the assumption that I want to (stereotypes or whatnot)... It's not that I don't want to save money but if the cheaper option would actually end up costing me more in the long run (wrong application from example), I rather just pay for Householder planning approval...but the architect assured me the end result of both applications would be the same, so again he suggested opting for Prior Approval for a larger home extension. Does anyone have any experience with these two types of applications, please?

ohh this is so good to hear. It also gives me some peace of mind too. I'm not against open plan but I don't think it is for me. I agree, it can look very good and the image included above by the poster previously looks fab too but I'm not wanting it for my home. I'd be worried about keeping the place warm too if it was open plan, if I'm sat in the living room and it was open with my kitchen, I'd have to heat up both areas even if I'm sat at one end. To me, they doesn't seem logical. I'd have to heat up the entire space, which is double the area and obviously takes longer to heat up and are there heat loss issues, I'm not sure. But thank you for this...I know open space is a trend, but trends don't last and I need to do something I can live with...whether it be 8 doors or not (tho I'm trying to get it down to 6! 😀)

Thanks for the input. maybe I'm misunderstanding, but I do not think my ideal revolves around the gym area...I just need an area for machinery that will not be affected by kitchen cooking smells and greases or what not. Yes, it's 2023 but to me, the number of doors was never an issue...we are opening it up, hence the drawings, I'm moving things and opening some areas up but I'm just not keen on opening the entire ground floor up and not having any privacy...it's like being at work and people having meetings at their desk and, whether talking loudly or nornally...you can hear every word...I don't particularly like attending these meetings when I am not even part of that meeting, even if it is hearing a one sided conversation at that, lol. Another alternative would be to put the exercise stuff in the left bottom hand corner and have the kitchen diner area on the right (middle right and bottom right), but then it would be darker in the middle right area for the kitchen and dining area, no? and I rather have natural light for the kitchen/dining area versus for the exercise area I think.

lol!! really!

two doors on the corridor to the kitchen? I only see one door? I'm not a big fan of having it all open plan...thinking travelling sounds, smells etc, from the kitchen or what not. Also, the layout doesn't list the placement of everywhere, TV, sofas tables etc, the dining table/ seating will likely go in the left bottom area of the kitchen/dining area...it just hasnot been drawn on as to not over complicate the drawing i think. Initially, I had to ask the architect to label up some of the drawings because it wasn't clear what it was...so him labeling the velux window was for my benefit. What do you all think is better, velux windows or this? for more natural light in the new extension?

lol, yes, I realise there are 8 doors...that is also the original layout...we have 8 doors currently...it's how the houses were built way back when. All yhe houses around here are like that, but most houses have knocked away the two walls (got rid of their downstairs wc and store room), to make a big kitchen. 8 doors, is something you just get used to if you've not opened up the space I've mentioned above. No, the toilet cannot fit underneath the stairs, and the 5 steps are representative of the stairs going upstairs. Ok, maybe it won't entirely be a gym for all gym purposes, it will at least have a treadmill and I would like a rowing machine and some weights, mat for floor work, pop in a sofa, punch bag, TV ...so maybe we call it another reception room if you will. Before having the idea to do the extension, I was dreaming of having a summerhouse for the gym stuff but research indicates it's like 35k alone, and when the extension came into discussions, it just seems better to integrate within the main house, so I don't need to think about extra electricity, security for the summerhouse if it something that can be accomdated within the main house with the extension. I'm re-thinking it and at this point I can look at removing at latest two doors...what do you think of this, does it work better? red sploge indicates sink to be installed. the grey lines are the doors, yellow arrows to indicated circulation space.

thank you, I had to read that a few times to understand lol