Planning problem with roof terrace. Help!!
Discussion
Chaps
A planning issue / quandry for you.
A friend of mine has constructed a small roof terrace on the first floor of his two story flat shown here.
There is no planning permission for the terrace. Indeed he recently had some work done to the flat and it was an express condition of that permission that a roof terrace was not constructed. There are numerous roof terraces in the area all of which are though to also be "illegal".
The planning enforcement office have recently mailed asking for access to the property to inspect the roof terrace, as they have been tipped off - long story but some
grassed him up.
So what to do on the basis that permission is unlikely to be granted?
A planning issue / quandry for you.
A friend of mine has constructed a small roof terrace on the first floor of his two story flat shown here.
There is no planning permission for the terrace. Indeed he recently had some work done to the flat and it was an express condition of that permission that a roof terrace was not constructed. There are numerous roof terraces in the area all of which are though to also be "illegal".
The planning enforcement office have recently mailed asking for access to the property to inspect the roof terrace, as they have been tipped off - long story but some
grassed him up. So what to do on the basis that permission is unlikely to be granted?
hornetrider said:
That's not a bench for seating - that's a shelf for plant pots - right? RIGHT?
I shuddered looking at that too. I mean that roof area is a accident waiting to happen with no edge protection, think trip or leaning back sipping a Gin & Tonic.Strip out what has been installed timber-wise, and take the council visit, (quite why people think they can, in such a built up area try to get one over on the council is beyond me).
Then make friends with the
who grassed you up and depending on how that goes, reinstall that frightening seating (with the knowledge that they could enforce you to remove it) or take it on the chin and lose the roof terrace.Curiously, How was the roof covering laid ? Asphalt ?? Felt ???
EDIT: Oh and in answer to the question at the end - Very slim to no chance of retrospective permission being granted, especially after being told not to do so and then going ahead and doing it.
Schoolboy Error !!
Edited by CedGTV on Tuesday 4th January 15:09
Is your friend sure that he "owns" the roof accroding to the deeds? As it may be the other tenants of the building are not happy at him helping himslef to more floor space.
Also has he had the roof checked to make sure you can walk on it? Just becasue it is flat does not mean you can walk on it.
Its possible that the roof has leaked in the past and all the tenants of the building had to foot the bill for the reapirs (from there buildings insurance) or pay in to a common pot for the building insurance which covers the roof, as an old company flat I used to live in had.
I think your friend is on very dodgy ground, adn would be best to simply remove the seating area and keep his head down.
ETA, is it even above his flat?
Also has he had the roof checked to make sure you can walk on it? Just becasue it is flat does not mean you can walk on it.
Its possible that the roof has leaked in the past and all the tenants of the building had to foot the bill for the reapirs (from there buildings insurance) or pay in to a common pot for the building insurance which covers the roof, as an old company flat I used to live in had.
I think your friend is on very dodgy ground, adn would be best to simply remove the seating area and keep his head down.
ETA, is it even above his flat?
Edited by KrazyIvan on Tuesday 4th January 15:16
There is less than zero chance of PP looking at the pics - serious overlooking and loss of privacy etc.
And don't even get me started on meeting building regs.. engineers calcs for roof loading, 1100mm min from floor level for the railings for starters.
Take the steps and bench out before inspection. If those parapet walls were built up without PP, I'd be buying a sledgehammer too..
And don't even get me started on meeting building regs.. engineers calcs for roof loading, 1100mm min from floor level for the railings for starters.
Take the steps and bench out before inspection. If those parapet walls were built up without PP, I'd be buying a sledgehammer too..
I think (and remember that assumption is the mother of all fk-ups) that it's a two storey flat and that the terrace is accessed via maybe an upstairs bedroom.
That's how I read and imagined it.
You point is another reason why planning wouldn't of been granted as well.
Building Regs, H&S and loadings to the terrace, plus overlooking the neighbours, will have all been taken into consideration when making their decision.
k-ups) that it's a two storey flat and that the terrace is accessed via maybe an upstairs bedroom.That's how I read and imagined it.
You point is another reason why planning wouldn't of been granted as well.
Building Regs, H&S and loadings to the terrace, plus overlooking the neighbours, will have all been taken into consideration when making their decision.
CedGTV said:
Strip out what has been installed timber-wise, and take the council visit, (quite why people think they can, in such a built up area try to get one over on the council is beyond me).
Including the floor? There are at least 15 terraces visible from this one.CedGTV said:
Then make friends with the who grassed you up and depending on how that goes, reinstall that frightening seating (with the knowledge that they could enforce you to remove it) or take it on the chin and lose the roof terrace.
He won't be back. who grassed you up and depending on how that goes, reinstall that frightening seating (with the knowledge that they could enforce you to remove it) or take it on the chin and lose the roof terrace.CedGTV said:
Curiously, How was the roof covering laid ? Asphalt ?? Felt ???
Don't know. Rocksteadyeddie said:
CedGTV said:
Strip out what has been installed timber-wise, and take the council visit, (quite why people think they can, in such a built up area try to get one over on the council is beyond me).
Including the floor? There are at least 15 terraces visible from this one.KrazyIvan said:
Is your friend sure that he "owns" the roof accroding to the deeds? As it may be the other tenants of the building are not happy at him helping himslef to more floor space.
Yes it is above his bathroomKrazyIvan said:
Also has he had the roof checked to make sure you can walk on it? Just becasue it is flat does not mean you can walk on it.
The decking (which you can't see) is suspended on the surrounding wall, rather than using the roof as support. 
Sour Kraut said:
Rocksteadyeddie said:
CedGTV said:
Strip out what has been installed timber-wise, and take the council visit, (quite why people think they can, in such a built up area try to get one over on the council is beyond me).
Including the floor? There are at least 15 terraces visible from this one.Rocksteadyeddie said:
Sour Kraut said:
Rocksteadyeddie said:
CedGTV said:
Strip out what has been installed timber-wise, and take the council visit, (quite why people think they can, in such a built up area try to get one over on the council is beyond me).
Including the floor? There are at least 15 terraces visible from this one.Rocksteadyeddie said:
Sour Kraut said:
Rocksteadyeddie said:
CedGTV said:
Strip out what has been installed timber-wise, and take the council visit, (quite why people think they can, in such a built up area try to get one over on the council is beyond me).
Including the floor? There are at least 15 terraces visible from this one.Rocksteadyeddie said:
KrazyIvan said:
Is your friend sure that he "owns" the roof accroding to the deeds? As it may be the other tenants of the building are not happy at him helping himslef to more floor space.
Yes it is above his bathroomKrazyIvan said:
Also has he had the roof checked to make sure you can walk on it? Just becasue it is flat does not mean you can walk on it.
The decking (which you can't see) is suspended on the surrounding wall, rather than using the roof as support. Kermit power said:
Rocksteadyeddie said:
Sour Kraut said:
Rocksteadyeddie said:
CedGTV said:
Strip out what has been installed timber-wise, and take the council visit, (quite why people think they can, in such a built up area try to get one over on the council is beyond me).
Including the floor? There are at least 15 terraces visible from this one.t he's stirred up.In reality , an anforcement officer will turn up and want to see what is going on.
He will no doubt disuss the options available to you and will later write to you inviting you to submit a retrospective planning application or stop using the facility known as the terrace .
The whole process will be quite civil and not what you are expecting , unless of course you decide to be a prick with him
Should you then be succesfull with such an application ( and you won't be ) , a whole mire of building regs problems will face you with regards loadings and resistance to falling.
eta. You will of course require planning for the railings or raising of the parapet wall required to protect from falling
He will no doubt disuss the options available to you and will later write to you inviting you to submit a retrospective planning application or stop using the facility known as the terrace .
The whole process will be quite civil and not what you are expecting , unless of course you decide to be a prick with him
Should you then be succesfull with such an application ( and you won't be ) , a whole mire of building regs problems will face you with regards loadings and resistance to falling.
eta. You will of course require planning for the railings or raising of the parapet wall required to protect from falling
Edited by Busamav on Tuesday 4th January 17:37
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