Extensions are a great way to add living space to your home, and we’re experts in creating them for properties in Bristol & Bath. They provide you with the space you need by adding entire new spaces, or even helping with current room layouts by adding open spaces or hidden away coves of relaxation. Rear & side house extensions in Bristol, for example, are a great way to incorporate practical spaces like utility rooms, open plan kitchens, study areas and anything else you should need. Front extensions on the other hand may be better suited to enhanced living spaces, immaculate entranceways or even impressive feature rooms to be the pride of your home.
Whatever your house extension needs to do for you, the CK architectural team can help make it happen. With years of design experience in taking house extensions in Bristol & Bath from designs through to planning stages, building regulations and even project management. We have all the tools that you need to create the perfect addition.
We work with you at every step of the journey too, ensuring you have exactly what you need without compromise. Contact us today for free quotations and advice on your project and we’ll do everything that we possibly can do to help.
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
Our Bristol based architectural design professionals will talk to you in depth about your requirements, timescale and budgets. We will work with you to see what works best for your family’s needs and budget, advising of any potential pitfalls we may see. Once we have a clear understanding of your requirements along with your ideas we will work together to get the best design options for you.
PRE DESIGN OPTIONS
Before we take on your house extension, there are always a few key areas that we look through in detail with our clients to make sure everything is in place for the best project possible. Things like the current size and layout of your home, plans for your house’s future, the purpose of the extension and anything else we need to know are great places to start. Coupling that up with things like potential planning limitations, like boundary walls, lighting, privacy and even aesthetics all come into play here.
Our Bristol based architectural design professionals will talk to you in depth about your requirements, timescale and budgets, and work with you to see what works best for your family’s needs and budget, advising of any potential pitfalls we may see. Once we have a clear understanding of your requirements along with your ideas, we will work together to get the best design options for you.
Most single storey extensions can be built under permitted development, which you can see below. We give you all of the necessary advice and where necessary make permitted development enquiries on your behalf too.
We know exactly what is legally required to be in place before you begin any building. Our clear planning application drawings present your design in the correct scales, site maps, and any other relevant documentation to validate the application. We will check the design against the planning guidance such as overdevelopment, impact on the street scene, right of light, overshadowing, loss of amenity and outlook, massing/dominance, loss of privacy, all giving you the best possible chance of success.
PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT
An extension or addition to your house is considered to be permitted development, not requiring an application for planning permission, subject to the following limits and conditions:
No more than half the area of land around the “original house”* would be covered by additions or other buildings.
No extension forward of the principal elevation or side elevation fronting a highway.
No extension to be higher than the highest part of the roof.
Single Storey rear extension must not extend beyond the rear wall of the original house* by more than three metres if an attached house or by four metres if a detached house.
In addition, outside Article 2(3) designated land* and Sites of Special Scientific Interest the limit is increased to 6m if an attached house and 8m if a detached house until 30 May 2019.
These increased limits (between 3m and 6m and between 4m and 8m respectively) are subject to the prior notification of the proposal to the Local Planning Authority and the implementation of a neighbour consultation scheme. If objections are received, the proposal might not be allowed.
Maximum height of a Single Storey rear extension of four metres.
Extensions of more than one Storey must not extend beyond the rear wall of the original house* by more than three metres.
Maximum eaves height of an extension within two metres of the boundary of three metres.
Maximum eaves and ridge height of extension no higher than existing house.
Side extensions to be Single Storey with maximum height of four metres and width no more than half that of the original house.
Two Storey extensions no closer than seven metres to rear boundary.
Roof pitch of extensions higher than one Storey to match existing house.
Materials to be similar in appearance to the existing house.
No verandas, balconies or raised platforms.
Upper-floor, side-facing windows to be obscure-glazed; any opening to be 1.7m above the floor.
On designated land* no permitted development for rear extensions of more than one Storey.
On designated land no cladding of the exterior.
On designated land no side extensions.
Visit the uk planning portal for more advice or book us to come for a chat
Our detailed building regulations plans will include all the necessary detail for your house extension in Bristol, such as structure, the passage of sound, disability access, drainage, resistance to moisture, collision, impact, heat loss, ventilation, light, an emergency escape and much more. Most alterations to your home will require a building certificate from a building control body, either local authority or private building inspector.
Once the design and planning have been approved you will then need a detailed set of drawings. These drawings can be used for gaining quotations and will be checked against as the building is inspected. Our specification demonstrates the new extension can and will be built in accordance with the building regulations approved documents. These building regulations drawings will then be submitted for a full plans check, amended if necessary and once approved they will be the standard that is built to and inspection against. Drawings will be used when the building control officer inspects the build to ensure the builder is carrying out the works correctly.
BUILDING AND BUILDERS
It’s always important when choosing your builder to do your research. Choose someone with experience, reviews, and someone you would feel comfortable working with and talking to about your concerns. Make sure you clear with your timescale, expectations and specific finishes.
When a builder provides you with a quote, it should be easy to read and have reference to our detailed approved building regulations drawings. Ask who will be doing the work, will they be sub-contracting and who is responsible. Make sure you know when you need to pay check their payment structure and be comfortable with it. Don’t always go with the references they give you, it’s not hard to find out where else they may have been working.
On our drawings, we try to add as much construction details as possible, but some assumptions have to be made and certain areas investigated before moving forward. We will offer help throughout for both you and the builder and we will come to site if help is required, as well as offering a comprehensive project management service to take care of all of this alongside you, too.