Brain Melted. Planning Help Please?

LambsEye

Right.

I know, I KNOW that there are multiple resources available online and I have read through a lot, but I just want a human answer that my soft brain can process.

We've gone Sale Agreed on a lovely old house in Cork. I have many wild and unrealistic ideas on which I need guidance re: planning.

The house has beautiful sea views but tiny latticed windows at the front. So our challenge is how to get the most of the view. It's like a big old semi-d cottage.

My questions are:

1. All the windows in the house are single-glazed and latticed.

a) If I want to upgrade all the windows in general - do I need pp?
b) If yes, do I have to stick to the same style? (i.e. latticed?) Or can I get windows that will allow more light/view in? (This would change the style of our house to neighbour's house - would this also be an issue? Because it's quite an old building there isn't actually much uniformity with the existing windows, e.g. different sizes, different colours/style of lattice.)

2. I have a sneaky idea. You can build a porch at the front of the house without pp. To make the most of our view, could we build a "porch" at the front but not have a door and knock through to the main house so there is no dividing wall/door between the "porch" and the house? Basically it would be a massive window box. But not exceeding 2sq m/3m high?

3. There is already a porch at the side of the house (an older extension.) Currently it's acting as the main door into the house. But again, the porch gets the best light and the best view.
Could I:

Try to somehow convert the porch to a separate room without pp? It would be a case of replacing the door with big windows, maybe replacing the back window with a wall? Knocking the wall through the porch and the main house?

Hugely appreciated in advance to anyone who can help guide my mad plans.

BryanF

Why avoid planning?

LambsEye

BryanF wrote: »

Why avoid planning?

Ach to be honest I’m sure we’ll have to get planning for something, like the windows for example. They have to be replaced and if they need planning so be it.

Its just I’d like to make it as straightforward as possible for the other things like porch/extension.

Dudda

You're compromising the design by not going for planning permission. You're trying to design a bay window to look like a porch. If you just get planning you can design whatever you want. That could be a massive bay window or enlarging the existing smaller windows or both.

If you plan to do a Dermot Bannon large glass box out the front get an architect but otherwise the cost of planning is relatively cheap.

I think it's 34 euro for the application and 50 for the newspaper (varies with newspapers). Then you've an OS Site Location Map to purchase and some drawings to do. You don't really need an architect (and I'm saying that as an architect) to do up the drawings as it's not a major job. Any drafts person should be able to do them relatively cheap and you could even get an architectural student in Cork University to do them. Good learning experience for them and would cost you very little.

LambsEye

Dudda wrote: »

You're compromising the design by not going for planning permission. You're trying to design a bay window to look like a porch. If you just get planning you can design whatever you want. That could be a massive bay window or enlarging the existing smaller windows or both.

If you plan to do a Dermot Bannon large glass box out the front get an architect but otherwise the cost of planning is relatively cheap.

I think it's 34 euro for the application and 50 for the newspaper (varies with newspapers). Then you've an OS Site Location Map to purchase and some drawings to do. You don't really need an architect (and I'm saying that as an architect) to do up the drawings as it's not a major job. Any drafts person should be able to do them relatively cheap and you could even get an architectural student in Cork University to do them. Good learning experience for them and would cost you very little.

This is great advice, thanks so much.

LambsEye

BryanF wrote: »

Why avoid planning?

Sorry for the follow up question but just on the planning question.

Essentially I'd be wondering what our chances are of getting approved for the design we want.

The house is semi-d. The windows are teeny and latticed. No light or view getting through. Our wish would be to:

1. Increase the size of the sitting room window
2. Change the style (not-latticed.)

But this would not match the style of the neighbours' windows. What do you reckon the chances of approval would be?

I'm trying to understand my limitations before I get too emotionally invested!

Thanks,

Dudda

LambsEye wrote: »

Sorry for the follow up question but just on the planning question.

Essentially I'd be wondering what our chances are of getting approved for the design we want.

The house is semi-d. The windows are teeny and latticed. No light or view getting through. Our wish would be to:

1. Increase the size of the sitting room window
2. Change the style (not-latticed.)

But this would not match the style of the neighbours' windows. What do you reckon the chances of approval would be?

I'm trying to understand my limitations before I get too emotionally invested!

Thanks,

Shouldn't be an issue but if you were willing to post a photo, Google earth link which has street view or a link to Daft where it's listed, etc we'd be better able to give an opinion on this.

You can remove the link or photos in a day or two after you get feedback if privacy is an issue.

BryanF

LambsEye wrote: »

Sorry for the follow up question but just on the planning question.

Essentially I'd be wondering what our chances are of getting approved for the design we want.

The house is semi-d. The windows are teeny and latticed. No light or view getting through. Our wish would be to:

1. Increase the size of the sitting room window
2. Change the style (not-latticed.)

But this would not match the style of the neighbours' windows. What do you reckon the chances of approval would be?

I'm trying to understand my limitations before I get too emotionally invested!

Thanks,

They may even be the original windows. Please Post a photo. Maybe not the daft page, because you don’t own it yet..

LambsEye

See attached!
The section to the right is actually an extension (with the porch.) The neighbour's house is the white one to the left.

My notes:
1. Adding a door here
2. Widening/opening this window as much as possible (this is the kitchen/living room and the view from here is fantastic.)
3. Changing the door and front window of the porch into a huge window, changing the windows on side and back.

Generally, I would also need to upgrade the rest of the windows.

BryanF

You’ll need planning for what you propose, but I’d suggest the arch you hire will be able to satisfy cork coco that it’s a visual improvement.. straight forward application, assuming the other bits of the development are compliant ie entrance Road type/ sight lines/setback and waste Treatment system - the latter should be addressed with seller prior to purchase.