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CAN WE INSTALL STEEL BEAMS NOW FOR A FUTURE 1ST FLOOR EXTENSION?
Installing any Structural Components for future Planning Applications is not a good idea due to the fact that there are no guarantees of future approval
Discount Plans has prepared this article to provide clients with insights into the potential need for revisions to a planning application by the local planning authorities. In some cases, an application may even be denied, which could lead to additional complications if structural elements, such as steel beams or other components, have already been installed in specific locations.
What are the reasons why it is not a good idea to install any structural elements for phase two of any future Planning Application waiting for approval
A common question that we receive from our clients when building a ground floor extension with them thinking ahead and being future-proof for a potential first-floor extension is: Can we install steel beams to support a future first-floor extension?
In summary, what the client is trying to explain is that when building the ground floor extension, can they install the steel beams in the exact location to support the proposed rear or side first-floor extension? This would save time installing the beams at a later date.
Through experience, it would not be a good idea to design steel beams or install them for future works for a first-floor extension as when it comes to obtaining planning permission for the first floor, the location and size of the first-floor extension are subject to case officers' final decision. If steel is installed, there will be no guarantees that a proposed first-floor extension will be passed to match the location of installed beams.
"INSTALLING BEAMS ON OUR GROUND FLOOR BUILD FOR A FUTURE 1ST FLOOR EXTENSION"
Example of a Clients Build that did not go to Plan - Property Located in Brimsdown
No second design is future-proof, and there are no guarantees.
The Best approach would be the following:
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Moving the incorrect location of steel will then be more expensive. It may need a new engineering design altogether, meaning that any fitted beams may not be suitable for the proposed first-floor extension, which needs to be uninstalled and disposed of, costing the client double the expenses.
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Any new engineering re-design for the new location of steel positioning will need to be paid for again, wasting further expenses.
In summary, moving forward
A cost-effective and sensible suggestion would be to design the steel only after the council has approved the proposed first-floor design.
This would mean submitting drawings to the planning department for a first-floor design being placed on top of the built ground floor element and waiting for planning permission to be approved. The first-floor extension size is then fixed to carry out any engineering design accurately based on external wall locations.
The proposed ground floor roof will need to be replaced anyway, so a cheap temporary flat roof will be installed, ready to be removed when the second phase of works for the first-floor element is scheduled. It will then be when an engineer designs the agreed-upon size of the second phase, and the installation of beams will take place with zero issues being presented.
You must remember that the council makes the final decisions on first-floor developments. Each approval is based on right-for-light issues following the 45-degree angle rule, the overall character of the extension, the width and depth of the proposal and so on, so all these fundamentals combined are viewed differently from property to property. Determining the council's acceptance of the design prior to receiving approval is practically impossible. That’s where the risk lies.
We invite you to contact our team today to arrange for a site-measured survey. This survey will facilitate the preparation of drawings to be submitted to the council within a period of two weeks.
We truly hope you found this article useful! It's important to know that installing any structural components can come with risks, potentially leading to costly consequences. Thanks for reading!
Warm regards, John Domenech
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