French doors - planning permission/building regs?

[Mad Dave]

Morning chaps,

I've just ordered all new windows and doors from a local, reputable, double glazing company. One of the things we plan to do is to convert the existing back door and window into french doors. The existing window and door are directly next to each other and have no brickwork in between - if you were to remove the door and window it would just leave a large hole, similar in shape to an upside down 'L' if that makes sense! In order to fit the french doors, they'll obviously have to cut out the section of brickwork below the window. The width of the new doors will be the same width as the existing window and door so any lintel that may be in there shouldn't need to be widened.

Now, the company hasn't said a dicky-bird about planning permission and/or building regs and it's just occurred to me that I should maybe be considering these - can anybody here shed any light on this issue? My gut feeling is that I shouldn't need planning as it's the back of the house and we're not creating a new entrance, merely enlarging an existing one. I'm guessing that we'll need to comply with building regs though, but the company should sort all that?

Any ideas?

Thanks

Dave

[Meeja]

I am far from an expert, but if you are simply replacing the door (albeit making it a tad larger) as long as the installers arew FENSA accredited, it shouldn't be a problem.

I could of course, be talking complete tosh.

[blueg33]

Is the house listed? Are you in a conservation area?

If the answer to the above is no, then you are probably ok. But the easiest thing to do is phone the planning department and building control department at your local council.

[Spudler]

Meeja said:

as long as the installers arew FENSA accredited, it shouldn't be a problem.

This is all thats required in your case.

[Mad Dave]

Thanks chaps. So I don't need planning permission provided they're FENSA accredited? Will I need to inform Building Control?

Dave

[Spudler]

Mad Dave said:

Thanks chaps. So I don't need planning permission provided they're FENSA accredited? Will I need to inform Building Control?

Dave

Nope

[Mad Dave]

Thanks

[herbialfa]

As what has been said above no permission is required just make sure they are Fensa, If not building control can sign them off for a small fee

[Busamav]

Mad Dave said:

So I don't need planning permission provided they're FENSA accredited?
Dave

Just for clarity ,

FENSA has absolutely nothing to do with whether Planning is required or not , it is purely for the Building regs part .

[Mad Dave]

Thanks for that, makes sense now