Does a side return become a wraparound if you rebuild the rear wall?

[Mira Catana]

Hello, grateful for a view on this issue:

We have a mid-terrace house and have built a side return extension in line with PD Part A. We're not in a conservation area and there are no restrictions affecting PD.

When we did the side return work we needed to rebuild what had been a sort of 'lean to' at the very rear - approximately 1m in depth. This 'lean to' is from when the house was built (pre-1948) so  considered that it formed part of the 'original dwellinghouse'. We did not extend beyond the original footprint at the rear, only extended to the side. The extension to the side is much less than 1/2 the width of the property.

What the Council appear to be saying is that because that rear part was re-built, the side return extension therefore becomes a wraparound and fails one of the conditions for Part A in that the extension "(iii) have a width greater than half the width of the original dwellinghouse".

Having re-read the PD guidance I don't see this being a constraint anywhere so I'm struggling to follow this - does this constraint make sense?

Many thanks in advance

 

[Ian Walmsley]

Hi,

Actually I think the local authority is wrong. 

Reason being is that you have merely repaired and rebuilt part of the property pre-1948.

Normally when you remove something and replace it, then it has gone. But I think in this case, I am not so sure.

In any event maybe you repaired it bit by bit, as opposed to demolishing it and rebuilding it - ie.e you repaired it. 

You also need to always be careful what you say to the local authority. I assume this is enforcement as opposed to the planning department. 

You might benefit from reaching out directly to me via https://planninggeek.co.uk/contact or perhaps booking a paid session via https://planninggeek.co.uk/book - so that we can give you detailed advise. Please be careful as to anything else you say to the local authority. 

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