Barcelona Triathlon

Trevor Hyatt (MD) recently completed the Barcelona Triathlon along with some friends to raise money for various charities.

Tips on how to get planning approval

Balconies, verandas and even decking (if it stands more than 300mm high) do need planning permission.

Planning rules are much tighter if you live in a listed building. You have no permitted development rights and making changes inside, or outside or in the aurrounding area, will routinely need planning permission. This doesn't mean that altering or extend...

ing a property is impossible. English Heritage keeps a register of every listed building in Britain, including the features for which they were listed and attempting to meddle with these attributes is planning suicide - other things may be a little easier. Homes in conveservation areas are also subject to special rules. You can't pebbledash the facade for example.

If you wish to pave over your garden for parking, you will probably not need planning permission, as long as you use porus bricks, gravel or slabs, don't live on an A or B road and don't cover an area of more than 5sqm. But you will need the approval of your local highways authority and have to pay for the kerb to be dropped.

Some further tips on how to get your plans approved

Make the most of your surprisngly wide "permitted development" rights to maximise red tape. you can build a decent -sized rear extension, conservatory and even a basement extension without planning permission, although you must comply with Building Regulations. Be very sure of your ground before you break ground.

The Government's newly proposed Perm...

itted Development Rights will make it easier for homeowners to install conservatories and ground-floor extensions without planning permission. If, after consultation, the proposals go ahead at the end of this year. It could mean that for a limited period, possibly two to three years, full planning permission will be needed only for extensions that extend more than 6m from the wall of a terraced house (currently it is 3m) or 8m beyond a detached house (it is now 4m). But permission will still be needed in conservation areas for listed homes.

Take a look at some recently completed work

One of our recently completed building and decorating projects in Mardley Hill