Domestic Extensions - Falcons Mead, Chelmsford

The original property was a three storey town house in the heart of the City Centre with the rear roof slope being used as storage with a maximum height of 1.8 metres.

The client was looking to submit a Certificate of Lawful Development application to exercise Permitted Development Rights.

However, with our local knowledge, we knew that that the original development had had its Permitted Development Rights withdrawn as part of the original Planning Approval for the development. This is not uncommon and indeed another route for Local Authorities to remove PD Rights is through Article 4 Directives which are usually published on the LPA’s website.

In this case, we had to prepare and submit a full Planning Application. The design included for raising the two adjoining Party Walls in brickwork. This approach is significantly superior than constructing the rear facing dormer inset from the party wall for the following reasons:

1. Raising the Party Wall is a Statutory Right you have under section 2(2)(a) of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.
2. There I a right of access over your neighbour’s property to raise the Party Wall under section 8 of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. If the dormer were to be built inset from the Party Wall, no right of access onto the neighbour’s land is granted.
3. By raising the wall, both adjoining owners have a neat wall to dress a lead flashing or other weather-proofing against.

If the party wall is not raised, there is a potential for a gap to be built between two rear facing dormers (should your neighbour do something similar) which results in a space that can’t be accessed. The dormer cheeks can not be maintained and will cause future maintenance issues.

The design incorporated a secret cupboard space with a full floor to ceiling bookcase that doubled-up that provided access to a concealed cupboard.

The client as thrilled with the end result and has led to a further commission to design a rear extension and we are now working on a similar project for the neighbouring property.