Log cabin extension on bungalow? If you want to know how your DIY projects could be affected by building and planning regulations, click here to post questions and view answers

[reggieroo]

Hi all,

I have a new addition to the family arriving in 7 months & need another room at my 3 bed detached bungalow, at the moment one room is a study/office, the other is a fully fitted out gym room & the other our bedroom.

I looked at getting an extension on the side etc but the cost was double what we could afford, the quote came in at £20,000 so I've been looking at these log cabins.

Now my gardens only small so I want to put it at the side of the house where I wanted the extension built.

The question is can I have it as an extension, you know attach it to my wall & have a door opening into it, I already have a window there that would be blocked by it so I thought a double door would be good so I could access it without having to go outside all the time. It would also be a tight fit right up to my border, no neighbours though to worry about.

I haven't got any planning approved for anything yet so I was wondering if I will have any issues with this or would it be easier to get permission than an brick built extension?

Also would it be subject to less building regulations if any?


Any advise would be great

Regards

Paul

[stoneyboy]

reggieroo,
There are too many open-ended issues to consider and I would suggest you start with a talk with your local Planning Department.
Following this find an architectural technician who will be able to help you on the advisability of using an attached log cabin.
end

[rosebery]

From a planning perspective it WILL be almost certainly be treated as an extension irrespective of wheher there is direct access from the house..

You can get away with a log cabin under permitted development rules (ie no PP required) provided that sadi cabin is a minimum of 5m from the main house, 1m from any boundary and not over 2.4m in height. If your garden is small then you probably don't have the space luxury to do that though.

The only way you will know if there are going to be planning problems is to go ask your local planning office. They aren't all ogres!! Building regs is different from planning - you'll have to ask the BCO.

Having said that £20k for a single storey extension seems a bit on the high side. I would have though closer to £ 15k but I haven't seen it. Get at least two more quotes for comparison purposes.

[reggieroo]

Well I've been looking on the planning portal website & it looks like you don't need planning for lots of things since 1st Oct 2008.

According to the info I can even put it as an extension without planning apart from one thing I picked up "materials to be similar in appearance to the existing house" Which a log cabin is not going to be.

As an outbuilding/summer house there is no planning needed as long as it doesn't exceed 2.5m within 2 metres of the boundary. Nothing there about it having to be 5 metres from the house or 1 metre from a boundary.

What happens if I just do it as a summer house & then next month for instance connect it to my bungalow? I've already got the window company coming round to quote on removing the window & replacing it with a patio door for access.

[rosebery]

"As an outbuilding/summer house there is no planning needed as long as it doesn't exceed 2.5m within 2 metres of the boundary. Nothing there about it having to be 5 metres from the house or 1 metre from a boundary."

If you say so. But if you read it again you'll see that what you quote is the the eaves height NOT the distance of the wall from the boundary. And don't forget that Local Authorities may introduce local variations. You may think you've got away with it by reading Prescotts Portal but your BCO has the final say.

"What happens if I just do it as a summer house & then next month for instance connect it to my bungalow?"

No idea. Ask your BCO which was the advice given by two people in the first instance.