Prefabricated Chimney Facade

dmboards

Hi,
Anyone got any experience of building (or installing) a prefabricated chimney facade - basically wooden facade added to roof that looks like a chimney stack but is just a replica of one?
I've a small terraced house and I'm thinking of removing the entire chimney stack to add some extra space within the house. Planners have already refused a request to completely remove the chimney stack and seal the roof because it affects the streetscape and visual amenity of the area.
A structural engineer has created drawing of supporting the external part of the stack using steel beams but that is going to considerably add to the cost. I've heard that its possible to have an external facade and have come across examples from the UK and Germany of companies that produce these but cant find any local links.
Any info appreciated, thanks
DM

jmBuildExt

Cant help you with the fascade... but I recently had a section 5 application granted to remove the chimney stack from my roof. South Dublin County Council. Semi-D in a housing estate of hundreds of houses of which 95% would have chimenys, including my immediate neighbours.

Did you apply for full planning or were you just told?
Where was it?

dmboards

Didn't apply for planning (awaiting response to emailed question) but a request to remove chimney in the area was refused some years ago.  I spoke to the person whos planning was refused (who is an architect herself) and she said that they used to let chimneys be removed but are not inclinded to do so now.   Mine is a terrace house, Dublin City council. 
Is your a terrraced / single chimney house by any chance?
Thanks

jmBuildExt

Its semi detached. My neighbour on the attached side has a chimney (they run up the centre of the houses and come through the roof on the side hip). As does the neighbour on the detached side. We are only separated by about 1.5m, the houses are tightly bunched together.
To be honest what i was told by my architect and others is its a bit of a grey area. You dont need planning if you want to put one up. He said if you removed it and someone reported it, the chances are you would easily get retention. (dont test me on this )
So he suggested lodging a section 5 application/declaration. Its basically formally asking the question as to whether you need planning or not.
You should do same - costs 80 euros, takes 4 weeks and there's no public consultation, i.e. a neighbour cant object.
I'll dig out the letter and put up the text they came back with.

I assume your house is not protected structure? That would be a different matter.

jmBuildExt

So the text said, word for word...

Assesment
"The proposed removal of the existing chimney would not create a significant visual impact that would render the appearence inconsistent with the character of the structure or neighbouring structures and would not materially affect the character or external appearance of the structure"

Conclusion
As such the scale and design of this proposal, would fall within section 4(1)(h) of the planning and development act 2000 (as amended) and is considered exempt.

One of the experts on here will be able to say what is in section 4(1)(h). I don't know whether different councils can have different opinions of the act. I suppose they would argue every case is unique.

Gumbo

I would have thought the chimney to be part of a the building regulations rather than planning regulations.

For a fake chimney stack, get yourself out to the affordable housing scheme in Poppintree. Fake stacks which will house all the vertical soil vent pipes.

http://www.ocualann.ie/poppintree.html

Nice job.

dmboards

Thanks jmBuildExt
Its not a protected structure and two other houses in the street have removed the chimney but I can’t find any record of seeking planning permission. 
To be honest I didn’t know about Section 5 (as I said it and engineer did up some drawings for steel approach) so it sounds like submitting this is the way to go.   It would be nice if I could mention the other houses that removed them but wont just in case it causes a fuss for the owners.
I had a look at the application – what submit drawings / photos did you need to submit with your application?
Thanks kceire – will have a look as a Plan B  if the Section 5 doesn't work.

Gumbo

dmboards wrote: »

Thanks jmBuildExt
Its not a protected structure and two other houses in the street have removed the chimney but I can’t find any record of seeking planning permission. 
To be honest I didn’t know about Section 5 (as I said it and engineer did up some drawings for steel approach) so it sounds like submitting this is the way to go.   It would be nice if I could mention the other houses that removed them but wont just in case it causes a fuss for the owners.
I had a look at the application – what submit drawings / photos did you need to submit with your application?
Thanks kceire – will have a look as a Plan B  if the Section 5 doesn't work.

Section 5 can be as simple as a text paragraph or it can include existing and proposed drawings, photos and photos of examples in the area.

jmBuildExt

I already had the drawings from architect so I stuck them in. They consisted of existing drawings then proposal drawings without the chimney. A photo of the house.
As kceire says it can consist of just a paragraph of a description. Basically you provide as much detail as you can so the person receiving it understands what you're doing and the impact it will have. Mine basically said "removal of chimney stack. Roof to be made good using identical tiles." I had the drawings already so stuck them in.
You must provide site location map too.