House to Maisonette Conversion

[spydersingh]

Some advice needed from the Property Chaps on here...!

How would you go about converting a house to maisonettes/flats?

The situation is......

3 bed semi detached house with land on side (enough to build another house of the same size), just in the midst of finding a decent architect but ideally would like to extend and convert to 4 maisonettes/flats and rent out.

The process (from what I imagine) is to draw up plans and submit to local planning dept...is that right?

Has anybody actually done this on here and were there any problems on the journey?

Any advice would be appreciated!

PS Any recommendations for Architects in the Harrow area?

Cheers!

[JCB123]

First of all, make enquiries with your local planning officer - get him/her out to the site and tell them what you are planning...they will then be able to give you an idea of whether a) it is feasible, and b) whether you are likely to get refused planning - due to factors such as visibility from the driveway onto the road etc.

Then find an Architect - or better still, someone like me, an Architectural Technician...we cost less!

It depends what you want, an Architect is obviously converse in design, so will be able to make it look the part....but if (like most situations) it will be a simple design, a Technician has the technical knowledge...(once an architect has designed something, they'll only give it to a technician to detail up anyway)

The process will be a Planning Application, basically drawings submitted to show how it looks, its size, location etc.

Once that is approved, you will need to submit for Building Regulations (minefield!) - these are detail 'working' drawings with a) enough information to be approved by Building Control, and b) will have enough information to obtain detailed quotes from builders....

I think that covers the basics....I won't get into services etc on here, but if you need any more information, drop me a line...

Jon

p.s. - if you cannot find an architect or technician drop me a line and we could discuss something...

[scotal]

JCB123 said:

First of all, make enquiries with your local planning officer - get him/her out to the site and tell them what you are planning...they will then be able to give you an idea of whether a) it is feasible, and b) whether you are likely to get refused planning - due to factors such as visibility from the driveway onto the road etc.

One of the councils local to us is now refusing to do this kind of meeting without an application having been submitted.(and fees therefore having been paid) Stinks if you ask me, but the council bods reckon too much of their time has been wasted by dreamers in the past.

[JCB123]

scotal said:

JCB123 said:

First of all, make enquiries with your local planning officer - get him/her out to the site and tell them what you are planning...they will then be able to give you an idea of whether a) it is feasible, and b) whether you are likely to get refused planning - due to factors such as visibility from the driveway onto the road etc.

One of the councils local to us is now refusing to do this kind of meeting without an application having been submitted.(and fees therefore having been paid) Stinks if you ask me, but the council bods reckon too much of their time has been wasted by dreamers in the past.

Yes this happens more often now - if this is the case, get a few sketches (existing and proposed site plan showing roof plan) and send them pdf or via post.....asking for their comments...

I personally will do my initial meetings FOC, most places it is obvious what is likely to cause contraversy - most of the time it is obvious that there won't be a problem getting planning...London is probably a different kettle of fish though?!

[Sam_68]

JCB123 said:

scotal said:

One of the councils local to us is now refusing to do this kind of meeting without an application having been submitted.(and fees therefore having been paid) Stinks if you ask me, but the council bods reckon too much of their time has been wasted by dreamers in the past.

Yes this happens more often now

I find that making it clear that if they take this approach, you WILL be submitting an appeal on the grounds of non-determination if the subsequent application goes even a minute over the statutory determination period often works wonders.

Time spent on pre-application consultation is nothing compared to the amount of time they'll spend dealing with appeal paperwork.

You'll be a lot more credible if your Architect approaches them with drawings than if you turn up yourself with some back-of-a-fag-packet sketches, though.

Without exception, the authorities we deal with are the exact opposite - they want every possible problem ironed out at the pre-application stage so that the determination periods are kept short and 'performance indicator' targets are thus met...

Your bigger challenge in this case is unlikely to be Planning, though; Building Regulations (particularly the bits that deal with sound isolation and fire protection between dwellings) are technically quite complex.

Edited by Sam_68 on Tuesday 22 January 17:55

[JCB123]

Sam_68 said:

JCB123 said:

One of the councils local to us is now refusing to do this kind of meeting without an application having been submitted.(and fees therefore having been paid) Stinks if you ask me, but the council bods reckon too much of their time has been wasted by dreamers in the past.

Yes this happens more often now

You'll be a lot more credible if your Architect approaches them with drawings than if you turn up yourself with some back-of-a-fag-packet sketches, though.

Agreed - but with like I said, it depends on your authority - North Lincolnshire Council wouldn't refuse a planning application if the sketch was drawn in a mirror, on your backside - some of the monstrosities of excuses for houses that they approve - tut tut!

Like I said, B.Regs is a minefield at the moment, new Part Hell mainly - I'm unsure how Part 'E' would work on existing - suppose it would be subject to sound testing as you can't use Robust Details?!

Sam - I see your a housing designer - snap - who do you work for if you don't mind me asking? You can email me if you like...

Jon

[ginettag27]

Agree with what the other two have already indicated.

1) Contact your Planning Office, or get someone to do it on your behalf.

2) Get some plans drawn up, use someone with Architectural ability, not necessarily an Architect!!

Let me know (PM me) if you want to chat, we can help with part of all that you need.

We're not too far from you, we're based just outside of High Wycombe.

[scotal]

'nother thought, one i should have had earlier to be honest. Be careful how you finance the ourchase, if you are buying the building, some lenders wont take kindly to you damaging their security by making 2 dwellings out of it (Others will be fine) and be careful how you set up any leases you intend putting on the building, Freehold maisonettes can be a bugger to mortgage.