Workshops at home...

[hotponyshoes]

I do know exactly how hard it is to run a pub.
Hence I'm out!

 

[whm_fab]

im currently in the middle of something you wish to do OP.

so i decided on a 53x30 main workshop, and a 30x12 machine shop/clean room/engine shop.
its about 100m from my house.

this is as it currently stands, insulated roof is arriving next week, but after that ive run out of daylight and money until spring
i would recommend trying to find a place that you can build your dream to your liking.

the only downside, its cost me a absoutely fortune to get this far, more than i ever estimated for even with a contingency.

 

[Robbie260]

I had the idea for a while that i would try and build out a 20ft container to a small work shop speck with a plug in electrical supply as then if i ever moved all i have to do is get someone a long with a truck to move the container. If i was going to stay in one place for a significant time i would erect a qsonet hut around the container or some similar easy dismantle structure so again if it came to moving time dismantle whip ot the container which has the majority of the workshop in it and away you go. The best thing about it in scotland a 20ft container is smaller than the planning departments minimum size for planning permission so it can go where ever there is space for it and no one can justifiably complain.

Though for your needs would say one structure with sperate rooms would be most ideal. The pitty is that is when it becomes a pain planning wise. You might be best trying get planning for a building with a flat above in say the loft space or adding an extra story as this should make it less liable for the planning department a neighbours to think you are building a industrial unit in your back garden.

 

[Arc Tourist]

@Wendelspanswick …………. It is quite a story, I should write a book. I like to get it off my chest whenever I lure an unfortunate victim into my shed....

I feel your pain, been dealing with our one car garage issue for nearly two years now. I think the appropriate title should be anti-planning department.
Our small community is slowly decaying without the slightest hope of regeneration, except by those who are financially able and willing to upgrade their properties. The area is a mixture of old and new buildings of different designs, some nice, but unfortunately many unkempt and dilapidated; so you can understand my utter disbelief that they would refuse my replacing an unsafe one car garage, with a new one car garage, in the exact same location; off of an unpaved lane. I won't rant on, but the basic reason I was given for refusal was that because I wanted an extra metre in length for disability egress, the excessive size of the proposed garage would be harmful to the visual amenity of the neighbours and the community.

 

[rtbcomp]

Slightly OT - some have mentioned diability issues, some councils will waive planning fees for disability access. I know of a property that that got PP for a disabled bathroom and didn't have to pay any fees.

I was having problems with my council years ago and got to the point where I wrote them a letter containing the sentence "If you can't do anything helpful then p*** off and leave me alone." They did.

 

[Robbie260]

I feel your pain, been dealing with our one car garage issue for nearly two years now. I think the appropriate title should be anti-planning department.
Our small community is slowly decaying without the slightest hope of regeneration, except by those who are financially able and willing to upgrade their properties. The area is a mixture of old and new buildings of different designs, some nice, but unfortunately many unkempt and dilapidated; so you can understand my utter disbelief that they would refuse my replacing an unsafe one car garage, with a new one car garage, in the exact same location; off of an unpaved lane. I won't rant on, but the basic reason I was given for refusal was that because I wanted an extra metre in length for disability egress, the excessive size of the proposed garage would be harmful to the visual amenity of the neighbours and the community.

Yep tell us about it its esspecially frustrating as the government are hailing self building to be the solution to britians housing crisis.

 

[Screwdriver]

Also, regarding the planning,

I have been granted planning for change of use on a shed before (storage of work stock) and on a tempory summer house (for part-time business use.
Both of these were simple applications and the guy that came out to inspect basically said it was only needed as the proper way to give the neighbours a chance to object and the local authority to collect the fee!

Of the 6-7 properties I have got on my short list at least 4 of these are in a conservation area. I will do a bit more research on this but does anybody know what he rules are for permitted development in conservation areas?

Also, if a wooden shed/structure currently exists what's the rules on replacing it to the same dimensions with a steel frame or block building?

There are special rules for PP in a conservation area but they will be specific to the local area, they can sometimes be helpful so don't just write off any possibility of getting your permissions through. The devil is in the detail but you can approach the local planning office for pre application guidance.

Pre-existing structures are much easier to deal with since you will be refurbishing or repairing them. I believe the idea is so long as at least some part of the existing structure is retained and the restoration is made using similar materials, you're good to go. Again, you really need to speak to a representative from the planning office before you start.

 

[maz0]

im currently in the middle of something you wish to do OP.

so i decided on a 53x30 main workshop, and a 30x12 machine shop/clean room/engine shop.
its about 100m from my house.

this is as it currently stands, insulated roof is arriving next week, but after that ive run out of daylight and money until spring
i would recommend trying to find a place that you can build your dream to your liking.

the only downside, its cost me a absoutely fortune to get this far, more than i ever estimated for even with a contingency.

Not to be too nosey but would you be able to give a rough cost? I’ll hopefully be doing something very similiar in size and style. Are you doing a lot of the work your self or is it through tradesmen? Thanks for sharing.

 

[Olderisbetter]

I fell foul of planning on my garage, Although i was ok in terms of permitted development someone complained about the street scene, saying the look of the building was not in keeping in my area, So i have ended up painting my cladding mid grey and now it looks stupid but the council are happy.

 

[ukracer]

I fell foul of planning on my garage, Although i was ok in terms of permitted developement someone complained about the street scene, saying the look of the building was not in keeping in my area, So i have ended up painting my cladding mid grey and not it looks stupid but the council are happy.

Jobsworths....

 

[whm_fab]

Not to be too nosey but would you be able to give a rough cost? I’ll hopefully be doing something very similiar in size and style. Are you doing a lot of the work your self or is it through tradesmen? Thanks for sharing.

sure no problem.
only happy to help, as i went into this totally green, and found it very hard to get information or help on it so had to work it out as i went.

im doing pretty much all of it myself/help of family friends although i did get a block layer, and i laboured purely for time reasons. while id have 3 blocks laid and be tapping and double measuring those guys would have 30 up! so it was a no brainer.

the ground works and reinforced 35n slab cost 6k - i had a mini digger to do some work, but i got a guy in with a big digger and dumper for the main work.
its 10in deep at the back of the workshop (30x20) where a lift will go, and 6in everywhere else 30x33).
6in deep in the small workshop
blockwork was 2k + at least another 3k, probably more in blocks and material (im not one of those that accounts for every penny, but everytime i went to the builder providers i was dropping 100's ) between blocks bricks, bags of cement, mixer hire, trestle hire, tons of stuff you dont think of.
steel portals and the steel beams above the doors cost 1500 inc a guy in a hiab to come lift them

10x2 timber for the roof on the machine shop was 500

steel Z-purlins were 900

75mm insulated cladded roof - 6 roof lights, inc all gutters and flashings, 8k, and that was alot of bargaining.

windows 100

and probably another grand at least in random crap, bolts, screws, building tools i never had, cutting discs, etc etc etc.

in my head i had the whole thing finished for 20k inc plastering and an insulated roller shutter and epoxy resin floor.
im well over 20k now and that is how it stands at present

 

[Olderisbetter]

sure no problem.
only happy to help, as i went into this totally green, and found it very hard to get information or help on it so had to work it out as i went.

im doing pretty much all of it myself/help of family friends although i did get a block layer, and i laboured purely for time reasons. while id have 3 blocks laid and be tapping and double measuring those guys would have 30 up! so it was a no brainer.

the ground works and reinforced 35n slab cost 6k - i had a mini digger to do some work, but i got a guy in with a big digger and dumper for the main work.
its 10in deep at the back of the workshop (30x20) where a lift will go, and 6in everywhere else 30x33).
6in deep in the small workshop
blockwork was 2k + at least another 3k, probably more in blocks and material (im not one of those that accounts for every penny, but everytime i went to the builder providers i was dropping 100's ) between blocks bricks, bags of cement, mixer hire, trestle hire, tons of stuff you dont think of.
steel portals and the steel beams above the doors cost 1500 inc a guy in a hiab to come lift them

10x2 timber for the roof on the machine shop was 500

steel Z-purlins were 900

75mm insulated cladded roof - 6 roof lights, inc all gutters and flashings, 8k, and that was alot of bargaining.

windows 100

and probably another grand at least in random crap, bolts, screws, building tools i never had, cutting discs, etc etc etc.

in my head i had the whole thing finished for 20k inc plastering and an insulated roller shutter and epoxy resin floor.
im well over 20k now and that is how it stands at present

When you look at the space you have created to work in and how secure it will be being so close to you it seems cheap when you think how much a place that big would cost to rent over a few years.

 

[8ob]

im currently in the middle of something you wish to do OP. the only downside, its cost me a absoutely fortune to get this far, more than i ever estimated for even with a contingency.

Sell the wife , kids and the dog to get that finished . Its worth it

Bob

 

[addjunkie]

I feel your pain, been dealing with our one car garage issue for nearly two years now. I think the appropriate title should be anti-planning department.
Our small community is slowly decaying without the slightest hope of regeneration, except by those who are financially able and willing to upgrade their properties. The area is a mixture of old and new buildings of different designs, some nice, but unfortunately many unkempt and dilapidated; so you can understand my utter disbelief that they would refuse my replacing an unsafe one car garage, with a new one car garage, in the exact same location; off of an unpaved lane. I won't rant on, but the basic reason I was given for refusal was that because I wanted an extra metre in length for disability egress, the excessive size of the proposed garage would be harmful to the visual amenity of the neighbours and the community.

Just resubmit , like for like, with a drawing, no dimensions, just to scale. When building use the wrong scale and it might end up 2 foot longer! Of course you could " maintain" the origional garage with out planning. Which is what Im currently undertaking on my barns, due to hoops to jump through.

Planning is just a game and box ticking excercise. Tick all their boxes, you get planning. Its their game you need to play it, they love eco, live roofs stuff like that.

If you have enough land to call yourself a small holder, fatm buildings are the way forward. What you use it for later is your buisness.

 

[Arc Tourist]

Just resubmit , like for like, with a drawing, no dimensions, just to scale. When building use the wrong scale and it might end up 2 foot longer! Of course you could " maintain" the origional garage with out planning. Which is what Im currently undertaking on my barns, due to hoops to jump through.

Planning is just a game and box ticking excercise. Tick all their boxes, you get planning. Its their game you need to play it, they love eco, live roofs stuff like that.

If you have enough land to call yourself a small holder, fatm buildings are the way forward. What you use it for later is your buisness.

I have had the drawings modified, and had to submit a new application. Yes, I have found out that its a game, a game that insults my intelligence.
I hope the original poster here has better luck.

 

[indy4x]

Went through the pain of dealing with the local planning dept when trying to txtend my garage, only wanted a 2m x2.5 extension to the side.

Popped in to see the planners for some advice as I wasn't 100% sure it was covered under permitted development and found they don't give it out free anymore so they gave me 2 choices

1. Submit a request for a 'determination' on whether full planning was needed, target time 8 weeks and cost IIRC £50

2. Just go for a full planning application

I spoke to a few architects and they couldn't decide if it was permitted development either so I went with option 1

After 4 weeks I hadn't heard anything so rang the planning office and they couldn't find my application and claimed I'd never submitted it. Drove down and showed them my bank statement with the payment to the council at which point they back tracked and said they had found it and would let me know in due course

8 weeks in still nothing so went ahead and built it, 2 years on still nothing from the council

 

[gaz1]

i ignored 1 and went straight for 2 dont see the point in wasting the first amount to be refused rather go for 2 and go from there

though in my case was interesting watching the council people argue on what could be allowed but yet refused by the other council guy

that was 2 hrs of good fun watching them throw all ways at other guy to then have it refused

like us couldnt understand why refuse .....

 

[8ob]

Went through the pain of dealing with the local planning dept when trying to txtend my garage, only wanted a 2m x2.5 extension to the side.l

Far better to seek forgiveness than permission, as with anything council the response will be " the answer is no, whats the question?"

Bob

 

[Arc Tourist]

Went through the pain of dealing with the local planning dept when trying to txtend my garage...……….. After 4 weeks I hadn't heard anything so rang the planning office and they couldn't find my application and claimed I'd never submitted it. Drove down and showed them my bank statement with the payment to the council at which point they back tracked ………….

After filing an appeal with regards to my proposed garage, I received a letter saying that it arrived after the 12 week time limit and was refused. I called them an told them I had Postal confirmation that it was received and signed for which after I sent them proof, they acknowledged. The appeal was a waste of time as it was just a rubber stamp of the previous ridiculous reason; even though there were no objections by any neighbours.

If anyone has to submit forms etc., make sure and make copies of everything, and send all paperwork by Registered Mail.

 

[addjunkie]

Objections dont seem to matter either, in the next hamlet to us a guy wanted to build some holiday chalets, on his field. 25 houses in the hamlet, 32 objections, most of them reasonable too. Planning approved.