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Smaller HomesRenovatingDesign Dilemma
matt_harrington26

floor plans refused due to height - digging down... anyone?

Harry Boy
5 years ago

Hi,

Just ahd floor plans refused by local council due to height of extension exceeding the original ridge height. Now thinking of digging down a bit to lower the ridge on the extension. Does anyone know what this is called in the trades as I'm struggling to show up anything on google.

Anyone got any 'war stories' about having the inside floor level lower than the outside ground level? in advance.

Thanks

Comments (5)

  • Harry Boy
    Original Author
    5 years ago

    ere is a cross section view to give indication of height. We're only talking around 500mm.



    This cross section (top right in pic) shows the proposed extension exceeding existing ridge height by 550mm.

    Could we excavate deeper to overcome this?

  • Jonathan
    5 years ago
    Yes you can excavate but this has a cost implication - check that you are prepared for this as it can be expensive as it is not just the cost of building down because you may need to move services, change external landscaping, and overcome the issue of how you transition from one room to the next.
  • PRO
    User
    5 years ago

    As per your other thread, i'd go back to the planners with your pics of the neighbours homes that have already done this. If as you say it's several of them, then there is a precedence already set, and in fact you are making yours fit in with the rest.


    Always be polite and ask if there was a particular problem? What didn't they like, is there a compromise etc?


    Then appeal.

  • Ribena Drinker
    5 years ago

    I know this may be simplistic, but can you not square off the ridge so it's lower?


    If you haven't got enough headroom to play with doing that, perhaps it could be a compromise with flattening the ridge and just digging down a little rather than a lot, or even look at the possibility of saving some height on the room below.


    Of course I say all of this in total ignorance of building regs, so I may be suggesting something impossible or unworkable, but if not it may be worth a thought.

  • PRO
    i-architect
    5 years ago

    First I would suggest that you go back to the planners and explore options with them, then possibly get a specialist planning consultant on board to help. It is really difficult to get a height increase approved on residential property in a residential area, but it is possible.


    Future changes in planning legislation seem to be pushing for increased heights and potentially an extra storey will become permitted development in some areas, but this is very unlikely in residential areas to houses. Possibly as a result of this I've been finding planners extra sensitive to height increases lately.


    Planners have a duty to be proactive in discussing your options with you, so they shouldn't have simply refused your application without discussing it with you and trying to seek a solution. Go back to them and talk it through - while this won't change the result you now have you can then appeal, or submit a different scheme. You won't be able to submit the same scheme again.


    Yes a lower ground floor level is possible but a lot more expensive and has more technical complexities to deal with for building control and construction.

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