substantially incompliance with planning post build

The Parrot

my question is the plans i am looking to build we designed mid boom.
i can get away with building the house but there a few features that are not needed ie a large balcony with a breakfast nook under it with large windows. i dont want to build this due to the added costs. also i want to take a round section out of the roof line that is in the back. neither will substantially change the look of the house. but will cut my costs by about 15/20 k
so im just checking to see if i build the rest exactly as planed but leave these features out will the council be ok.

thanks for the help.

muffler

This is something that crops up every now and then and the best answer I can give you is that "officially" you need planning permission to make any alterations to the approved plans.

However I would advise you to contact the local planner/planning office and discuss it with them. You may get away with a "minor amendment" but this varies from county to county so best to contact the people who matter.

The Parrot

thanks for the help. i was of that impression but i thought after reading a few bits around here that someone might have a good handle on it.

sinnerboy

You would be best advised to formalize this , not from the point of view of the council but from the point of view of funding and later conveyancing.

In my experience even if a council is satisfied that a building is , lets say , "close enough" that they are are inclined not to take enforcement action - it is lending institutions and the surveyors and solicitors they appoint that you need to keep in mind now.

In the short term you may find progress payments frustrated over such issues. In the long term if you need to re mortgage or sell on - you may have problems.

One last word to the wise. Be careful too not to hire a certifier who simply does what you want him to. In other words if someone provides a cert which is later disregarded by a future surveyor ( this happens all the time by the way ) Eg - if you have a cert which says the house is built completely in compliance with planning permission , when it is in fact not then you will not be done any favours by the guy who gave you the cert.

You comply or you don't comply.

So will say the money-men.

The Parrot

thats very good advice.
thank you. ill be doing my best to do everything by the book.
the plus point is i hope never to sell this place. due to were it is and location.