4 Year Rule – Planning Permission

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What is the 4 year rule – planning permission? If your property does not have the required planning permission, there are four years in which your local council can take enforcement action to remedy the breach. The four years start from when the development is substantially complete.   What is the 10 year rule? You… Read more »

How Much Does a House Extension Cost?

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How much does a house extension cost? We get asked this question a lot, so, we thought it worthy of its own post! It’s not an easy question to answer and obviously depends on a number of factors (etc, etc…), but that’s not the answer you’re looking for is it? You’re really looking for a very rough… Read more »

Prefab (and modular) extensions: costs, pros and cons

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Prefabrication and modular construction are both off-site construction methods that involve building components in a controlled factory environment, which are then transported to the construction site for assembly. They are becoming increasingly popular for homeowners looking to expand their living space.   What’s the difference between a prefab extension and a modular extension? Prefabrication generally… Read more »

Planning for a mansard roof extension

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Extension design above by Amos, architect from Islington, London. See more and shortlist them for your home project here. You may be considering applying for planning for a mansard roof extension if your existing loft space is not high enough or the wrong shape for a straight conversion or dormer extension. What is a mansard roof… Read more »

Do I need a party wall surveyor?

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Extension design above by Gareth, architect from Haringey, London. See more and shortlist them for your home project here.   Before we answer the question, ‘Do I need a party wall surveyor’, we’ll address the more important question, ‘Do I need to serve a party wall notice?’ as you may not require a surveyor if… Read more »

Best architects for affordable extensions in London and South East

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affordable extension architect London

We’ve rounded up some of the best architects for affordable house extensions in the UK.           Will – Residential architect in Brighton (click on his name above to view his full profile and shortlist his practice for your project) My name is Will, I am an architect and designer, as well as… Read more »

What is GPDO?

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GPDO stands for General Permitted Development Order. Permitted development gives permission to undertake certain alterations, extensions or additions to your home without requiring Planning Permission.   Design above by Will, architect from Brighton and Hove, South East. Click here to see more and shortlist them for your home project. When permitted development doesn’t apply There… Read more »

Residential architects in Bristol and Bath

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If you’re planning a house extension, renovation or new self-build, finding the right architect can be the critical first step. We’ve compiled some of the best residential architects in Bristol and Bath to give you a starting point, and hopefully provide a little inspiration too. The Bristol and Bath area is brimming with talented architects and designers, so we… Read more »

10 of the best architects for small / home projects

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We’ve rounded up some of the best architects and small architecture practices across the UK, all specialising in residential projects.           1. Will – Residential architect in Brighton (click on his name above to view his full profile and shortlist his practice for your project) My name is Will, I am an… Read more »

Can I apply for planning permission before I buy a property?

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Can I apply for planning permission before we purchase a house? In short, yes. You do not need to be the owner of a property to apply for planning permission. However, you will need to inform the owner of the property/land prior to submitting the application.   Image above by Nick, architect from London. See… Read more »