Planning a kitchen extension – a step-by-step guide
Tired of your current kitchen? Then it could be time to start planning an extension. Here’s how…
By Katie Garrett
Contributions from Katie Sims
Expert architect advice by George Omalianakis, GOAStudio London residential architecture
Once you have approved the architect’s plans, you will know whether the extension falls under permitted development, or if you need to apply for planning permission for an extension. Your architect should be able to advise you in this respect.
‘Obtaining permissions are an integral part of the design development process you will go through with your architect’, says George Omalianakis, kitchen extension expert at GOAStudio. ‘It will help you make decisions on your requirements, starting with the overall layouts of your kitchen extension project, then “zooming” in to assess more detailed requirements about technical and structural requirements, finishes, fittings and materials, before finally preparing tendering information for builders to review and price before you are able to appoint a builder for your project.’
If your extension falls under permitted development, you will still need to obtain building regulations approval from a building control officer (BCO), also known as a building inspector. Building regulations apply to most work and ensure safety and energy efficiency. You can choose between a local authority inspector or private approved one, which may be quicker.
If you’re applying for planning permission and your house isn’t listed or subject to restrictions, your architect can submit the plans for you. Allow at least eight to ten weeks for the application to be processed. At the moment, many authorities are running over this timescale, so bear this in mind. You may also require approval under the ‘Party Wall’ Act, which is a wall that stands on either side of a boundary of land belonging to two or more owners. Works with foundations within certain distances of the walls also fall within the act, not just work to the wall itself.
Can you extend an existing kitchen?
Yes, the chances are that you can probably extend your existing kitchen.
‘The question is how can you extend it to make the new space work with the existing space’, says Expert Residential Architect George Omalianakis. ‘You want the extension to create an enlarged kitchen, dining, living, and even kids play area that opens up to the rear garden and that links to the rest of the house in an effortless way.’
He adds, ‘you will need the experience of an expert residential architect to help you assess what works best for you, what works best for the property, and how it can all come together in a way that is sensible and meets your requirements.’
Do you need permission to extend a kitchen?
Planning permission is usually one of the more difficult stages of how to extend a kitchen. You are likely to need a number of approvals for your extension, all of which depend on the type of the property, the location, and how the new extension relates to the adjacent boundaries with the neighbours.
‘If your property has Permitted Development Rights (this often applies to non-Listed houses that are not in Conservation areas, but not to flats) you might be able to add an extension that needs no prior planning approval’, says architect George Omalianakis. ‘But you will be limited with what you are able to do in terms of design, as Permitted Development requires that you tick a number of boxes. It’s also advisable to apply for a Certificate of Lawfulness to confirm your Permitted Development Rights.’
You will need Building Regulations approval from your local Building Control or from a private Approved Inspector. Building Regulations deal with a number of technical and structural matters including the overall insulation levels of your extension and of your home, fire regulations, structural safety, weatherproofing details etc.
‘You will also need to deal with any relevant Party Wall matters if you build near the boundary with your neighbours’, explains George. ‘And if your property is leasehold then you will need to obtain an approval (often called License to Alter) from your Freeholder. It’s best to ask a solicitor to advise on the terms of your lease and how you go about obtaining approval from your Freeholder.’
Lastly, if you live near a public drain, you’ll need to run your plans through the local water authority as well. There’s a lot to cover, but any chartered architect should be able to help advise you on the planning permissions of your extension, and you can keep referring back to GOV.uk for all the relevant info.
BOROUGH SPECIFIC ARCHITECT AND PLANNING GUIDES FOR YOUR HOME PROJECT
Your local Council will have in place design and planning requirements for your home project and you will need to obtain planning approval for a wide range of extensions and alterations to your property.
When you get in touch we will offer you detailed advice about what is likely that your Council will approve and in the meantime we have prepared the following architectural and planning guides that include extracts of the relevant planning policy and examples of our projects in our Borough.
Barnet architects | Planning and design homeowner guide, Camden residential architect and planning guide, Enfield residential architect and planning guide, Hackney residential architect and planning guide, Hammersmith Fulham residential architect and planning guide, Haringey architects | Planning and design homeowner guide and planning guide, Islington residential architect and planning guide, Kensington and Chelsea Conservation architects, residential and planning guide, Lambeth residential architect and planning guide, Lewisham residential architect and planning guide, Newham residential architect and planning guide, Tower Hamlets residential architect and planning guide, Waltham Forest residential architect and planning guide, Wandsworth residential architect and planning guide, Westminster residential architect and planning guide
HOME DESIGN – Find ideas for your project.
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We provide architectural services for residential projects in the following London Boroughs:
Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, Westminster
We specialise in
- Greener homes
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- Conservation areas
- Listed Buildings
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GOAStudio London residential architecture limited.
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Chestnut Avenue South, E17 9EJ, Waltham Forest
t: 0203 984 3005
