Projects - Residential

Residential Projects -

Wedgewood Lane, Gillow Heath

Sector: Residential - Private - Update Text

Front elevation complete

Background

bpArchitecture were appointed by our client to deign an extension for a bungalow they had inherited [Parents former home] to provide a more contemporary dwelling for the couple and their two children [young Adults at University/Colledge at the time] .

The original proposal was to put in a wrap around extension and put bedrooms into the loft, adjusting the volume of the roof space with dormers. To incorporate a Master bedroom with ensuite and two bedrooms sharing a Jack and Jill Ensuite. Provide a lounge, Kitchen Utility, Dining. Replacement garage

The Scheme Design

We developed a scheme that met all our Clients requirements and submitted this for Planning Approval as an extension removing the roof and adding an upper storey with front extension. The project was on a larger than average corner plot with a good outlook to the front and so features were incorporated to capture the view from both the front bedrooms and the landing.

Planning Street View front elevation

Planning Negotiations

The Planning officer was not happy with the forward extension and increasing the height of the L shaped footprint vertically. He advised that if we extended the original footprint of the bungalow verticallt this would be accepted - Flat front with a rear facing projection. But woudl not accept a forward and upward extension.

He would also not accept the attached garage, stating that this increased the volume of the dwelling too much, and planning policy supported detached garages. But did not accept attached ones. He claimed that there was not a precedent for integral or attached garages in Stafordshire Moorlands - we asked if he had actually visited Biddulph !!!.

We were left with no alternative but to amend the application to become a Replacement dwelling. He insisted that the dwelling be moved one meter left on site up the hill, so that it was away from the neighbour to the right and the garage be detached and set back. Because this moved the view from our Client bedroom - right . The upper floor plan was flipped so the two children had bedrooms on the right of the upper floor, sharing a separate family bathroom [omitting the jack and Jill] and our Clients took the left hand side, with walk in wardrobe and ensuite. the ground floor plan remainded roughy the same with the exception that the garage was attached.
Spot the slight differences between extended dwelling, replacmeent dwelling and the finished project .

Planning Approval was granted in 2019

3D view of Replacement Dwelling

Stage 4 Technical Design

We developed the Stage 4 proposals and the project was priced by the Builder. Costs had gone up from £50 to £60k for a large extension to close to £200k for the replacement dwelling. The issues with this are even if services exist , Local providers insist on new connection charges circa £2.5k a peice . As we were forced to move and replace the dwelling, this involved new fdoundations and complete new foul and surface water drainage. Plus the cost of demolition and site groundworks.

The Completed Dwelling

Stage 5: Site Works

We were appointed to liasie with the Builder, Building Control and Engineer whilst the Works were on site and provide a Site Inspection service with COML Proffessional certificates, whilst the works were on site. .

Rear elevation Complete - the sun makes rendr look yellow

Nothing is Ever Simple !!!!

Trail pits were dug: running water under sand was found, and a Ground based slab was amended to a raft foundation.

As the dwelling had moved up the site at the same level , a retaining wall to form a raised planter now had to be constructed adjacent to the boundary with the neighbour, setting the dwelling on this elevation down into the ground , with side access path to avoid the cost of tanked side wall.

Services: the exisitng electric connection was pulled into a temporary housing whilst the works were on site, and later moved to the side wall of the garage. However, when replacing the meters for new ones the Electricity Provider insisted on charging for a new site set u, even though the cable was there and the only thing altered was meters.

Drainage: Exisitng drainage on site was combined and left to the rear via an exisitng manhole and run through neighbours garden to a side street. We adjusted the levels of the foul drain in the neighbourds rear garden to avoid having to pump the drains up to the street. - Moving the dwelling had adjusted a shawllow invert level. However, UU insisted that the Surface Water could not be connected at the same point and would have to be brought around to the front and taken out via Wedgewood Lane. So instead of paying for a pumping chamber in the rear garden our client had to pay to dig up 120m of Wedgewood Lane to get to a UU owned manhole further down the road, on the corner of the street which the original drain connects into. Highways owned drains in Wedgewood Lane itself and woudl not allow UU to take them over and connect into them.

However, The project was completed on site to allow our client to move in in Feb 2020, and stop rental of a temporary dwelling, and for External Works to complete walling, patio, footpaths and drive to be completed around them.

Status: Completed 2021
Value: £50k £200k
Type: Residential Extension/ New Build
Contract: Self-Build
Client: Private
Architect: bpArchitecture
Structural Engineer: CVM Consulting
Project Ref: 18-063