Purchasing copy of house plan in a new estate.

sailing

Hi,

Firstly not sure in this is in the correct forum so miss feel free to move as appropriate. I'm interested in buying a house in a new housing estate where construction has recently begun. The problem is there is very little information about the estate. I've contacted the builders and and the nominated estate agents to seek information about the type of houses. They haven't given much away only giving me a copy of the site map and the size of house being built.

Is it possible to buy copies of the plans of the layout of these houses from the local council so that I can get an idea of what the houses will look like? There are due to be be detached, semi detached and terraces houses being built. I would like to have an idea of the layout of the type of house I'm interested in before being faced with putting a deposit down on a launch day.

Many thanks.

Angry bird

Yes they will photocopy what you need

Victor

You can probably download the planning drawings from the council website for free.

However, do note that the planning drawings aren't the construction drawings and the construction drawings aren't necessarily how it will get built.

Do not go ordering furniture, carters, etc. until the house is built.

Gumbo

When I bought my house I rang the architects and told them i bought one. And jus asked. I sky if there was any chance of getting a copy.

I ended up with the digital autocad files as I explained I was "in the game".

DOCARCH

Victor wrote: »

However, do note that the planning drawings aren't the construction drawings and the construction drawings aren't necessarily how it will get built.

+1

Important to remember that very often houses are not actually built in accordance with the drawings!

I often do measured surveys of development houses and at the same time have had the original planning and/or construction drawings. I have yet to find one house built as it was planned/drawn! The differences can be very slight, but, enough to throw out (to some extent) any further work being planned.

Gumbo

DOCARCH wrote: »

+1

Important to remember that very often houses are not actually built in accordance with the drawings!

I often do measured surveys of development houses and at the same time have had the original planning and/or construction drawings. I have yet to find one house built as it was planned/drawn! The differences can be very slight, but, enough to throw out (to some extent) any further work being planned.

+1

one estate here in Dublin. Complete planning package showing timber frame.
Construction on site using traditional brick and block.

Angry bird

Yep, the planning drawings are the basic ones and as has been pointed out changes are often made to the interior or materials used, sometimes minor, sometimes more major changes, unlikely to need a new planning permission. Planning is mainly concerned with the exterior, where windows, doors are placed, height of building and where a house is sited, change those and may need a new planning permission. Construction drawings are the detailed ones, detailing exactly how, where, what etc, where the building control and fire regs come into play.

Section 4-1-h of the 2000 Planning Act sets it out, and this would apply to buildings under construction also but advisable to get it signed off by competent engineer or architect, or indeed seek a declaration of exemption from the Council

development consisting of the carrying out of works for the maintenance,
improvement or other alteration of any structure, being works which affect
only the interior of the structure or which do not materially affect the
external appearance of the structure so as to render the appearance inconsistent
with the character of the structure or of neighbouring structures