replacement outbuilding

[corylus]

my neighbours has recently demolished an old outbuilding (say 200yrs old) and has had a replacement building erected that is at least twice the size, should they have applied for planning permission?

[jefner]

they certainly should have checked with the local planning department as to whether permission was required. you can ring and ask whether they have. They may also need building regs.. the local authority should also be able to tell you whether or not they have applied. if the building is attached to the property they will definitely need building regs but if not and it is only being used as a garage with no drainage or anything in it then it may be exempt depending on size. you should definitely ring your council and check.

[corylus]

apologise for the typos in my first post, the new building is not attached to the house, it is not a garage, it is 'supposedly' for storage, but as I said it is at least twice the size of the original building and although rebuilt in stone looks out of place. No planning permission notices have been posted locally, just wonder if you can do this.

[jefner]

so long as the building is not for "habitable use", is less than 30 metres squared, single storey, doesnt have any drainage for a wc, sink or shower and is more than a metre from the house then building regs may not be required but you definitely need to contact the local planning department to check with them as their rules are very different to building regs. the records they hold are available to the public and you can ask for any info they hold regarding the development. if they dont have anything then one of the guys from their enforcement team should go out to the site to check on the works. it may be that they have checked and the planning guys have said it is a permitted development and that they can go ahead but you can certainly check with them tomorrow. people can do anything they like but thats not to say thay wont be told to take it down if it doesnt conform to planning laws! definitely ring your local council.

[buildersmate]

Jefner has covered off the Building Control side, but really this is a Planning issue. These are the situations when a Planning Application must be made for an outbuilding. (An outbuilding is only an outbuilding if ALL parts of it are more than 5 metres from the original house).

You want to put up a building or structure which would be nearer to any highway than the nearest part of the "original house", unless there would be at least 20 metres between the new building and any highway. "Highway" includes public roads, footpaths, bridleways and byways.

More than half the area of land around the "original house" would be covered by additions or other buildings.

The new structure is not to be used for domestic purposes. For example, for parking a commercial vehicle, running a business or for storing goods in connection with a business.

The structure is more than 3 metres high, or more than 4 metres high if it has a ridged roof. (Measured from the highest ground next to it.)

If the main house is a listed building, and you want to put up a structure with a volume of more than 10 cubic metres.

If the main house is in a Conservation Area, a National Park, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, or the Norfolk Broads, and you want to put up a structure with a volume of more than 10 cubic metres.

[corylus]

thanks everybody, lots of rules and regulations here