Tony Bryer wrote:
On Sat, 24 Jun 2006 22:25:40 GMT Jonni wrote :

Planning permission - I currently live in a local authority semi which I
will be purchasing next year. Being a semi, my neighbours house is
pretty much identical in design.

If his were to come up for sale, would I be permitted to buy it and
change it into one house?, forget the work involved I mean purely from a
legal perspective.

It depends on the attitude of the local planners. In LB Richmond upon
Thames this would be resisted as reducing the supply of more affordable
accommodation. For the same reason LBRuT resist reverse conversions -
turning a house converted into flats back into a single family house (in
contrast to 40-50 years back reverse conversions are potentially
profitable in this part of the world). Other LPAs wouldn't raise the
slightest objection. You need to check your LA's viewpoint.

Indeed; and in some areas you might have the same problem if you wanted
to convert one house into two; it just depends. Best thing is to make
an appointment with the planners and go in for an informal chat to see
how the land lies. (Take lots of photos of the properties and the
street with you).

David