expert insight
WHEN PLANNING AN EXTENSION, IAN CHAPMAN, DIRECTOR AT THE VAWDREY HOUSE, SUGGESTS TAKING TIME TO CONSIDER THESE THREE THINGS – HOW YOU LIVE, THE SPACES YOU WANT MOST AND THE FUNCTIONS YOU NEED FROM THEM
The first thing to do is to look at the spaces you already have and consider carefully how this might change in the future.
Think about how the extension might complement or contrast with the house. Rear extensions are often an opportunity to be really creative, have fun and express some personality. Exterior cladding can link to the interior design to help spaces flow and we’re seeing an increasingly inventive use of brickwork and timber cladding. But also look at more unorthodox material choices such as ceramic tile, pigmented cement and terrazzo to create something really special.
Planning permission is typically the first hurdle to try to
negotiate. Permitted Development Rights provide a three-dimensional envelope within which full planning permission is not normally required. Use this as a general guide at the early stage to give yourself an idea of what could be achievable, but don’t let this dictate the project.
We advocate developing the interior design of the extension to a good level before preparing and submitting a planning application to avoid amending the planning consent later. In conservation areas or with listed buildings it’s usually important to be more sensitive to the original building. But that does not mean dumbing down your architectural aspirations.
The temptation is to build as large an extension as you can.
There are obvious economies at play – a 6m extension does not cost twice as much as a 3m extension. But take care to ensure that a deep extension does not devalue the spaces now ‘landlocked’ at the centre of the house. A full-width single-storey addition to a typical terrace will inevitably reduce the amount of light at the centre of the house. There are clever design solutions that can be used to offset this – plan the layout carefully to incorporate functions such as utility rooms, a pantry or a shower room in the centre where natural light and fresh air are not so important.
With soaring energy costs, it’s more important than ever to
ensure buildings are highly insulated and well built. Your project is a great opportunity to overhaul the heating system for the whole house and cut dependence on fossil fuels by incorporating heat pumps and PVS.
Keep the neighbours on side. Discuss the project with them from the design stage, but not too early. They want to feel consulted, but we don’t want them to dictate the design either. If you are carrying out works in proximity to a shared wall you will likely need to serve notice under the Party Wall Act.