Conservatories - is this good or bad?

[N. Thornton]

Hi


May I ask about an odd conservatory idea, as I'm a bit unclear.

Imagine a small conservatory, say 50 sq feet, located at 1st floor
level, on top of an existing 1 storey ground floor room. It would be
up against the boundary line with a neighbouring property: lets
imagine that they agreed to it. Distance to road maybe 8 feet or so. A
new doorway would be put into the outer wall for access.

Now I know this may sound unlikely: the question is, is there any way
by which this could be done? I would expect the answer is no, but you
never know.


Regards, NT

 

[Owain]

| May I ask about an odd conservatory idea, as I'm a bit unclear.
| Imagine a small conservatory, say 50 sq feet, located at 1st floor
| level, on top of an existing 1 storey ground floor room. It would be
| up against the boundary line with a neighbouring property: lets
| imagine that they agreed to it. Distance to road maybe 8 feet or so. A
| new doorway would be put into the outer wall for access.
| Now I know this may sound unlikely: the question is, is there any way
| by which this could be done? I would expect the answer is no, but you
| never know.

It wouldn't even necessarily need to have a ground floor room beneath it. A
lot of 60s and 70s council flats had sun balconies which could be enclosed,
or a floor projection could be made on brackets or cantilever.

Owain

 

[Bob]

| May I ask about an odd conservatory idea, as I'm a bit unclear.
| Imagine a small conservatory, say 50 sq feet, located at 1st floor
| level, on top of an existing 1 storey ground floor room. It would be
| up against the boundary line with a neighbouring property: lets
| imagine that they agreed to it. Distance to road maybe 8 feet or so. A
| new doorway would be put into the outer wall for access.
| Now I know this may sound unlikely: the question is, is there any way
| by which this could be done? I would expect the answer is no, but you
| never know.

It wouldn't even necessarily need to have a ground floor room beneath it. A
lot of 60s and 70s council flats had sun balconies which could be enclosed,
or a floor projection could be made on brackets or cantilever.

Owain

Reminds me of a lecture theatre at Southampton University, which completely
sticks out of the side of the building, over a campus road. It's supported
by a cantilever arrangement, and is perfectly safe, but they had to install
dummy posts at the corners because the cleaners wouldn't go in it! If you
look closely, they don't quite reach the bottom of the building they are
supposedly supporting

Bob

 

[bigbrian]

Reminds me of a lecture theatre at Southampton University, which completely
sticks out of the side of the building, over a campus road. It's supported
by a cantilever arrangement, and is perfectly safe, but they had to install
dummy posts at the corners because the cleaners wouldn't go in it! If you
look closely, they don't quite reach the bottom of the building they are
supposedly supporting

And the Adelphi Hotel in Melbourne, where the rooftop swimming pool is
partly cantilevered out over the edge of the building (the pool also
has a suspended glass bottom so you can enjoy the view straight down!)

Brian

 

[Andy Hall]

| May I ask about an odd conservatory idea, as I'm a bit unclear.
| Imagine a small conservatory, say 50 sq feet, located at 1st floor
| level, on top of an existing 1 storey ground floor room. It would be
| up against the boundary line with a neighbouring property: lets
| imagine that they agreed to it. Distance to road maybe 8 feet or so. A
| new doorway would be put into the outer wall for access.
| Now I know this may sound unlikely: the question is, is there any way
| by which this could be done? I would expect the answer is no, but you
| never know.

It wouldn't even necessarily need to have a ground floor room beneath it. A
lot of 60s and 70s council flats had sun balconies which could be enclosed,
or a floor projection could be made on brackets or cantilever.

Owain

I am pretty sure that this one would switch on a need for both
planning permission and building control because it's not ground
floor, though......


..andy

To email, substitute .nospam with .gl

 

[Owain]

| >It wouldn't even necessarily need to have a ground floor room
| >beneath it. A lot of 60s and 70s council flats had sun balconies
| >which could be enclosed, or a floor projection could be made on
| >brackets or cantilever.
| I am pretty sure that this one would switch on a need for both
| planning permission and building control because it's not ground
| floor, though......

I suppose the answer is to bank up the soil level to the appropriate floor
height, install the conservatory and obtain a cert of permitted development,
and then remove the soil.

Owain

 

[Capitol]

| >It wouldn't even necessarily need to have a ground floor room
| >beneath it. A lot of 60s and 70s council flats had sun balconies
| >which could be enclosed, or a floor projection could be made on
| >brackets or cantilever.
| I am pretty sure that this one would switch on a need for both
| planning permission and building control because it's not ground
| floor, though......

I suppose the answer is to bank up the soil level to the appropriate floor
height, install the conservatory and obtain a cert of permitted development,
and then remove the soil.

I am impressed with the approach.

Regards
Capitol

 

[N. Thornton]

"Andy Hall" wrote

| >It wouldn't even necessarily need to have a ground floor room
| >beneath it. A lot of 60s and 70s council flats had sun balconies
| >which could be enclosed, or a floor projection could be made on
| >brackets or cantilever.
| I am pretty sure that this one would switch on a need for both
| planning permission and building control because it's not ground
| floor, though......

I suppose the answer is to bank up the soil level to the appropriate floor
height, install the conservatory and obtain a cert of permitted development,
and then remove the soil.

Owain

Thats creative But it would mean burying the existing floor, plus
creating a retaining structure on the boundary to avoid burying the
neightbour. And it would necessitate a tunnel to get out the back door


What you suggest almost suggests that one could build a small tower
block if you had your own digger with which to bury each successive
layer of building I cant imagine theyd really buy each one being
ground floor development.

BTW the ground floor room is already there, so no cantilevers would be
needed.


Whats the PP and BCO situation with underground extensions, or a
separate underground storage room? Its ok, I wont be asking about
tethered hot air balloons Its nice to check out some potentials, as
if there are any I would look into it as a self build.


Regards, NT

 

[Owain]

| Whats the PP and BCO situation with underground extensions,
| or a separate underground storage room? Its ok, I wont be
| asking about tethered hot air balloons

The big problem with underground rooms is 'means of escape' from fire.
Storage rooms are probably acceptable and it's sometimes possible to
integrate a swimming pool into the basement foundations. But habitable
rooms, which may be used as bedrooms, get BCOs rather nervous. (They'd
probably fail on windows as well.) And watch out for heavy vapours and fumes
from garages.

Owain

 

[N. Thornton]

"N. Thornton" wrote

| Whats the PP and BCO situation with underground extensions,
| or a separate underground storage room? Its ok, I wont be
| asking about tethered hot air balloons

The big problem with underground rooms is 'means of escape' from fire.
Storage rooms are probably acceptable and it's sometimes possible to
integrate a swimming pool into the basement foundations. But habitable
rooms, which may be used as bedrooms, get BCOs rather nervous. (They'd
probably fail on windows as well.) And watch out for heavy vapours and fumes
from garages.

Owain

Thanks Owain. These points are easy to deal with in this particular
case. Windows would be provided at ground level, in the roof of the
underground room, and would be used to provide means of escape as well
as light and ventilation.

I assume such underground structures would be covered by BRs and maybe
PP as well: that is my first question for now. If they are not, I will
investigate further sooner. If they are, I'll investigate further
later.

This idea would be outside of the house structure, and intended as a
storage room, but of course if it can be made habitable that would
make it of significantly more use. It would be quite close to
boundaries, and road.

Just what rules cover this sort of thing? Are underground sheds/stores
allowed?


Regards, NT

 

[Owain]

| > The big problem with underground rooms is 'means of escape' from fire.
| Thanks Owain. These points are easy to deal with in this particular
| case. Windows would be provided at ground level, in the roof of the
| underground room, and would be used to provide means of escape as well
| as light and ventilation.

You might need to provide a fixed ladder/staircase to access the window from
inside, unless you can obtain a B Regs exemption on the grounds you're
Zebedee.

| Just what rules cover this sort of thing? Are underground sheds/stores
| allowed?

Go deep enough, and you'll need a mines permit

You could probably dig out an Italian Sunken Garden though, and then glass
roof it under conservatory rules. <Thinks> Oh no, conservatory rules require
translucent walls as well.

Air raid shelters?

Owain