Timber frame extension

Shau_98

Hey everyone,

We're looking to build a granny flat approx. 60m2 as an extension. 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom & combined kitchen/living area. Plan is to do a timber build. Extension will connect to main houses utility room where a window exists. It won't be connected to the houses heating system only electric where we will be getting ESB to split it. House is for 1 couple & child.

We were going build a stand alone house with land split and transferred over but pre-planning meeting was basically a no & implied it was extremely risky. Planner then pointed us in direction of a 'family flat' on the counties development plan.

Just wonder has anyone built a granny flat (timber/block) on to an existing building where you needed planning permission.

Any advice in relation to the actual building & planning is very welcome.

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058316519/timber-frame-extension

Usually granny flats are connected physically via internal door(s) so they can be absorbed into the dwelling when the elderly family member is no longer here. This may or may not be the case in your county, best to confirm the requirements in the county development plan.

The planning permission will l be straight forward, but will basically mean demonstrating that it meets the requirements of the development plan.

If it is going to be built as an extension with a separate heating system. You'll need to consider how to thermally separate the two. How will it be heated.

Are you planning a traditional timber frame (ie block outer leaf) or a full timber frame?

Shau_98

We would be putting the internal door where the utility room window currently is, to avoid having to knock into a wall and figure out supports for a new door

It is in our county development plan says it must be 50% or less SQM of the main building, no mention of amount of rooms. Planner for the county council pointed us to go in this direction

Full timber frame, either with rendering on outside or builder recommeded that we could say it has a contempary design as we would have modern features. House down the road has a normal block built bungalow with a extremely modern extension to the second floor completely different colour to house and planning was granted for them. Although there extension was around 30sqm. We woul be going for builders finish on the extension

Heating we will be get a wood pellet stove for living area and electric radiators installed.

Mellor

Making an assumption on which county DP applies. Key points below.

not a separate detached unit...direct access to the remainder of the house.

The ‘family’ flat shall not be let or sold, and shall revert to being part of the original house when no longer occupied by a family member.

...forms an integral part of the main dwelling unit capable of reintegration for single family use.

...family flat shall generally be less than 50% of the floor area of the main dwelling. In the case of a two-storey family flat, an internal connecting door will normally be required at both levels. External doors will normally only be permitted to the side and rear of the house, with the presumption against an independent front door.

Access shall be either from an internal door or by side door well screened from the front elevation.

The form and design of the existing building should be followed and the extension should integrate fully with the existing building by using similar detailing and window proportions, materials and finishes.

Pretty clear that being integrated into the house in future is a requirement. That needs to be considered in terms of how it works. Most requirements you need to have addressed, such as access. The last line would be the sticking point against an extremely modern extension/completely different colour. But probably not a total road block.

You'll need a designer to help I assume.