Planning drawing for a porch

[m3jappa]

I would like to change the porch on my house, currently it is just a normal pitched roof and doesnt look that appealing imo.

I would like to change the right side (above the doors) to a gable end open oak frame and post porch with a hip roof adding the existing (or adapted to suit new pitch). Spoken to my chippy friend and builder mate who both agree its straight forward.

I do need to apply for planning though as im only allowed 3m to highest point, this would be around 3.6m.

How detailed does the drawing need to be to submit for planning, do i need a before and after drawing? what measurements need to be on it? does the whole front of the house need to be on it (our house goes round the side and joins a garage, so i couldn't even fit it on a piece of a4 unless i made it tiny). The main roof is also enormous, if you made it into living space it would be 4 stories! I can't fit that on paper

What else does my drawing need? and besides that do you think it will look good? i think it will transform the look and for the money is well worth it. I will have to change all the guttering to that fake metal stuff, the soffit on the porch would be oak and the soffit up top would remain white. Its a shame because the back of the house has a big gable end and looks lovely. the front is flat and featureless with a massive roof! The large porch would (hopefully) balance that.
My drawing is slightly wrong i just noticed in that the ridge of the gable end would be just under the centre window and the roof to the left which is existing would be the same height.









Would look similar to this but will have a hipped roof and only benopen on the right side (existing brick pier to be removed). It will also protude approx 800mm further out than it does now.

Edited by m3jappa on Saturday 25th August 20:00

Edited by m3jappa on Saturday 25th August 20:07

[Simpo Two]

Get advice from your local Panning Dept; they will be able to tell you what you need to submit. Scale plan and elevations with dimensions, plus photos, will get you close.

[Equus]

They're usually pretty tolerant with obvious amateurs, but as above - scale plans and elevations of existing and proposed (which means that the drawings should be to a recognised scale - usually 1:50 or 1:100 for the sort of thing you're doing) and should show either written dimensions or a scale bar, sufficient to allow them to check that scale.

And don't be too surprised if they ask for all four elevations of the house, even though you can't see the porch from the rear - the Validation Clerks who do the initial processing of the applications are frequently congenital morons, working from a tick list, and have even less idea of how to read architectural drawings than your average Planning Officer (and some of those are only one step above a reasonably bright Labrador).

Either the elevations or the application form will need to give them details of existing and proposed materials. You don't actually need photographs, but they won't do any harm.

They will also require a site plan at 1:500 or 1:200 scale, and a Site Location Plan at 1:1250 scale, showing the plot boundary outlined in red, a north point and the location plan should show either at least two road names or the OS grid reference of the site. These site/site location plans are usually based on large scale Ordnance Survey mapping data, and you can buy online on this link

You'll also need to fill in the application form, which includes 'Certificate A' - which confirms that you own the property - and an Agricultural Holdings Certificate to confirm that it's not a farm (yes, even if it's blatantly obvious that it's a house). And, of course, the application fee, which for a householder application is £206.

You can submit everything online via the Planning Portal these days.

[Simpo Two]

Equus said:

...and have even less idea of how to read architectural drawings than your average Planning Officer (and some of those are only one step above a reasonably bright Labrador).

I think Britain might function rather better if local council employees were replaced with reasonably bright Labradors. And a damn sight cheaper.

[m3jappa]

Thanks very much for the info.

I may have to admit defeat and stick to what i do and get someone who does drawings as even if my drawings were acceptable it would take me quite some time to do them, and the thought they may well not be right would always be in the back of my mind.

If it were 600mm lower i wouldn't have to but hey ho. I'm pretty sure there was a local bloke advertising planning drawings on our local facebook page the other day so i will give him a shout.

[BryanC]

A brave effort, but if you want the ridge to be centred over the existing door opening, mind that the new ridge doesn't clash with the window cill over.

IYSWIM

Edited by BryanC on Sunday 26th August 10:13

[Prawo Jazdy]

It’s difficult to know without seeing the finished article, but will your new exposed oak and metal guttering look a bit odd when mixed with the existing windows and main guttering/soffit/fascia (whatever those bits are called)?

[m3jappa]

Prawo Jazdy said:

It’s difficult to know without seeing the finished article, but will your new exposed oak and metal guttering look a bit odd when mixed with the existing windows and main guttering/soffit/fascia (whatever those bits are called)?

I dont think it will. It wont look as good as having all oak windows and soffits but will look ok, quite a few images on google of oak porches with white windows, white soffits and black guttering. The lower part of the house adjoining the porch i will do the soffit in oak so it all ties in round it.

[m3jappa]

BryanC said:

A brave effort, but if you want the ridge to be centred over the existing door opening, mind that the new ridge doesn't clash with the window cill over.

IYSWIM

Edited by BryanC on Sunday 26th August 10:13

I am not 100% sure it will centre over the centre of the doors, i think it will but without actually taking very accurate measurements im not sure. i hope it will look as as the doors are set back quite a bit, the left side will still have brickwork and the right will be open so im hoping that these factors will help to offset anything not aligned iykwim.

I think its a case of just building it so the new ridge is literally 50mm below the cill.

[m3jappa]

Another option i have thought about is to have the oak painted, so initially i would have the oak fitted, see what it looks like, if it doesnt look right against the windows and soffit upstairs i could paint it the same or similar colour to the cladding. Maybe not as nice as raw oak but still much more attractive than whats there now.

[m3jappa]

Just to bump this up.

I spoke to a couple of other trades today who were literally gobsmacked i was going to apply for planning to build this.

I like to do things properly and worry about when we sell something would be picked up which will cause all sorts of unnecessary agro which could have been avoided.

However i do agree that to an extent whats the problem? theres a porch there now, its going to be higher at 3.6m this is the only planning issue, other stuff wouldn't effect it. if it was 3m then no issue. But who's going to measure it?

Silly idea or just stump up for a drawing and do it right?

[MrTinkerer]

If you do it in keeping with the property and get on well with your neighbours I doubt you would have any issues with planning.

If you get pulled up you can put in a retrospective planning app. But I'm from same thought as you and I would want to do it all by the book

[Steve H]

I would just do it, why go through all that fuss and admin for something like this?

[Escort3500]

As it’s unlikely to get picked up by the Council you could just crack on with it. The only potential downside is lack of paperwork when you come to sell. A purchaser’s solicitor, if thorough, might ask for evidence that pp was needed/granted for the porch. It could just delay a sale whilst the LPA’s views are sought etc. Worst case scenario (assuming enforcement action for removal is not pursued/possible) would be a retrospective application.

[m3jappa]

In the end i got planning for it, i am so afraid of issues when selling that its just easier to do it right. Only thing im not sure of is when its done does it need to be signed off? or is that it?

Anyway i am really really pleased so far, i have done the building work and my mate has been doing the oak, of which he's doing a spectacular job, totally perfect! It is also going to have the effect i wanted of making the house look a bit more individual without looking silly iykwim. I was always caught up on the front of this house looking odd, im fairly certain now its going to look much more proportionate.

[Origin Unknown]

I think that is going to look lovely when done and certainly an improvement over existing. Looking forward to seeing finished pictures.

Block paving looks a big rough though

[m3jappa]

I think its going to look great, really pleased so far. And haha yes the block paving is rough, a local 'competitor' did it a couple of years before we moved in, it will be replaced one day and by default it has to be the best driveway ever seen i just need to find the time and money

[Steve H]

Doesn't need signing off for planning and I assume there's no building regs on something that size?

[m3jappa]

Steve H said:

Doesn't need signing off for planning and I assume there's no building regs on something that size?

I am under advice it didn't need building regs, i think because we haven't gone into the house so to speak.

[DozyGit]

What porch? I only see BT green boxes littered all over the place ;-) Do you work for them?