Home extensions and home renovations often require planning approval from your local council. If you are making a modification to an external feature on a residential dwelling, you need some kind of approval from your local council. That could be either via full planning permission or a permitted development application. Learn more about the difference here. 

Here at Home Tales, we frequently spilt applications to focus on different extensions or modifications within the same property. There are lots of benefits to splitting applications and we are going to talk through just a handful of these in our blog here today. 

Maximise your space

In some cases, splitting the application enables you to get the largest extension available. In Wandsworth, you can extend a loft conversion over the entire rear outrigger through a quirk in the planning policy. We submit a householder application for the front dormer. This enables you to utilise your entire 40 cubic meter area (assuming you a mid-terrace) over the rear outrigger, which almost always enables you to fill this space right to the end. Not all local councils let you do this as some argue that you can’t utilise both householder planning and permitted development rights. This is one of the reasons having an experienced planning team to prepare and advise on the application is so important as it’s imperative they know the system and how best to navigate it. Here at Home Tales, we have an expert team who have an excellent thorough knowledge on the planning process. 

Pulborough Road, SW18

One of the projects we used the duo householder application and permitted development application for was on Pulborough Road. For the ground floor extension we submitted a householder planning application. The extension extended into the side return of the property and extended full-width 4m to the rear. This was approved without a hitch. For the loft we submitted an application for the main dormer via a householder application. For the rear dormer we submitted a permitted development application. Just look at the space added with these stunning extensions. The loft added two huge double bedrooms and a bathroom. 

Go bold in planning

Another advantage of splitting application is if you want to be ambitious on your proposed extension size. When we prepare a planning application we look at both local planning policy and precedent to help give us an idea of what is likely to be approved. Some clients like to play it safe and to go for a proposal that has a great chance of being approved first time around. Some clients want to go a bit larger and potentially create a new precedent for the area and/or road. If you are doing a double project (ie. ground floor extension and loft conversion), splitting the application enables you continue with one project if the other gets rejected or gets delayed due to amendments being requested. 

Here at Home Tales we show loads of details without our floorplans. We show your furniture, kitchen layout, beds, wardrobes etc. The reason we do this is to help you visualise the space from an early stage. This helps you to identify the size of the extension you need for your requirements. For example, if a 6 seater dining table is a must-have, it’s important you see it fits well within the space. This helps you to understand what size extension you need to meet your design. It can help because in many cases homeowners realise they don’t necessarily have to go ambitious in planning to fit their requirements. 

Householder vs. Permitted development 

Another reason to spilt applications is because if you are doing a double extension (ie. ground floor extension and a loft conversion), and if one of the extensions falls under permitted rights. If permitted development is an option, it is generally better for go for approval via permitted development. If it complies with permitted development the council have to say yes and issue you with a certificate to say it passes permitted development guidelines. A householder application is more ambiguous and open to interpretation. With that said, it can offer more flexibility on adjustments or negotiations on the proposal. Ultimately each extension is unique and the best route for planning will be different for all applications. It’s important you have a team who can advise on planning during the design process. 

If you want to discuss your ideas for your home renovation and/or extension in more detail we would love to talk. Call us on 0207 043 2378 or email us at hello@hometales.co.uk. You can also book a free consult via our live diary here.