Front Porch

glenkeeran

Hello all,

Presently i have a small front porch but its cold and built to a bad specification. My question is, is there need to apply for planning to knock my old porch down and rebuild it. Probably the same size but with different materials?

muffler

If you are altering the external appearance of the porch then PP will be required. You can always give the local planner a quick ring just to clarify the matter.

therightangle

@muffler

If the original porch was <2sqm and exempt in the first place, would it matter if the external appearance changed?

Or is modifying an exempt sized porch a different matter to building one?

muffler

therightangle wrote: »

@muffler

If the original porch was <2sqm and exempt in the first place, would it matter if the external appearance changed?

Or is modifying an exempt sized porch a different matter to building one?

Damn good question and one which would probably generate a different reply from different PA's around the country as there is nothing specifically in the regs to cover this.

My view on it would be that the original porch when built, exempt or not, would have became an integral part of the house and as the regs dont provide an exemption for external renovations/alterations of any part of the house then it would require PP. So to knock down and rebuild any part of the external walls will require permission in my opinion.

I would however suggest to glenkeeran that he could apply for a section 5 declaration and that would put it to bed.

Poor Uncle Tom

glenkeeran wrote: »

Hello all,

Presently i have a small front porch but its cold and built to a bad specification. My question is, is there need to apply for planning to knock my old porch down and rebuild it. Probably the same size but with different materials?

Under Class 50 (b),

CLASS 50

(a) The demolition of a building or other structure, other than—

(i) a habitable house,

(ii) a building which forms part of a terrace of buildings, or

(iii) a building which abuts on another building in separate ownership.

(b) The demolition of part of a habitable house in connection with the provision of an extension or porch in accordance with class 1 or 7, respectively, of this Part of this Schedule or in accordance with a permission for an extension or porch under the Act.

you can demolish the existing porch to provide a new porch provided the new porch complies with the exempted requirements, 2square metres floor area, not within 2m of the public road, 3m roof height or 4m with slate, etc., in accordance with Class 7.

If your porch is bigger then that, you need planning permission, imo.

muffler

Poor Uncle Tom wrote: »

Under Class 50 (b),



you can demolish the existing porch to provide a new porch provided the new porch complies with the exempted requirements, 2square metres floor area, not within 2m of the public road, 3m roof height or 4m with slate, etc., in accordance with Class 7.

If your porch is bigger then that, you need planning permission, imo.

I would think that 50 (b) refers to demolishing a part of the house in order to accommodate an approved (or exempted) extension which obviously includes a porch. I think the reasoning behind 50 (b) is to permit ancillary work when extending which would include the likes of widening window & door opes, removing over-door canopies, breaking through new door opes, removing tiles/slates etc etc.

As the porch is already there I dont believe that exemption would apply in this situation as its a complete rebuild of that element and not just demolition to accommodate a new structure unless of course its within the 2 sq. metre limit.

Different horses for different courses.

Poor Uncle Tom

Poor Uncle Tom wrote: »

..to provide a new porch....in accordance with Class 7.

If your porch is bigger then that, you need planning permission, imo.

muffler wrote: »

...a complete rebuild.....within the 2 sq. metre limit.

We're saying the same thing really, just using different hammers to crack the same nut, as it were........:)