The Decade-Long Retrospective Extension Planning Dispute

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The concept of asking for forgiveness rather than for permission was taken to quite an extreme level in the case of a home extension that seemed to break every rule going but was granted permission after 12 years.

No building contractor working on house extensions in the West Midlands would work on a planned extension without either firm planning permission or assurances from the local planning authority that the work would fit under permitted development rights.

Applying for retrospective permission is not a risk most people would take, given that at best it can lead to demands to take down an extension that has already been built and at worst can lead to fines for violating planning law.

In 2012, a decade-long chain of events was set in motion in Bradford that would lead to a huge conflict between two neighbours and how one extension affected the other’s living conditions.

The dispute centred on an extension to a terraced house on the end of a street that was initially proposed with good intentions to help someone with medical conditions stay within their home but somehow managed to break every written and unwritten planning rule.

It was far too large as a ground and first-floor extension, creating both a wind tunnel and blocking the neighbour’s light for nearly the entirety of the day, affecting their enjoyment of the property and potential sale value.

It was also built unsympathetically to nearby homes, eschewing the pebbledash style in favour of artificial sandstone, causing it to stand out against the rest of the buildings and affecting the character of the area and breaking a planning agreement.

The building was refused permission five times, four of which were retroactive before finally being approved in late March 2023, with the chair of the planning panel claiming he had seen worse extensions that had been approved.

Small Bathroom Renovation Ideas

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Having a small bathroom doesn’t mean it has to be pokey, cramped and feel tiny. There are plenty of ways you can update your space to make the most of your bathroom and leave the room feeling open, inviting and enjoyable.

Many people may think that there is no way to open up your bathroom if it is a small room and extending isn’t an option, but there are many small steps you can take to make the room feel as big as possible and many of them can be done quickly and easily.

The first tip for opening up any space, including the bathroom, is to use light colours. This will bring a lot more light into the room and therefore make it feel bigger. 

Darker tones can look nice, however, they have a tendency to make small spaces seem even tinier, so you may wish to avoid them in the bathroom.

Another great tip for maximising your space is to use mirrors. These will help reflect light and give the impression of a larger space. Mirrored walls are popular in bathrooms and are easy to clean and look modern and sleek so they’re the perfect option for small rooms.

If you have an especially small space, it may be worth considering removing the bathtub and opting for a shower-only bathroom. 

Baths can take up a lot of valuable floor space and they aren’t essential, so removing it may give you a lot of additional space to add storage or simply make the room feel larger.

Consider mounted shelving or alcoves as storage solutions in place of standing shelves and cabinets. While cabinets give a lot of storage space, they can be bulky and take up valuable room. 

Floating shelves, shower niches and mounted towel rails are all great ways to free up floor space.

Looking for bathroom fitters in Telford? Get in touch with Meyrick Builders and Roofers today!

What Are The Signs Your Chimney Needs Repairing

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Sometimes it can be obvious when a chimney is in need of repair, however, some issues can go unnoticed if you don’t know what to look out for. 

This can be especially difficult for those who have just moved house and have perhaps never lived somewhere that has an open chimney and fireplace before.

One sign you may need a chimney repair is if you can smell smoke in the house. Chimneys work by allowing the smoke and air from the fire to be drawn upwards and out of the house and if you can smell the smoke inside it is likely there is an issue.

This could be due to a buildup of soot which means the chimney would likely only need to be cleaned out, or it could indicate there are cracks in the chimney which may require more extensive repair work. Routine cleaning and checking can reduce the risk of this.

Another sign your chimney may need repair is if it is visibly not looking its best. This can be either inside or outside and includes cracking, chipping and crumbling. If you notice that the masonry has started to degrade it’s time to call in a professional and assess the damage.

This happens over time and is natural if chimneys are well used as the brick soaks up moisture, smoke and soot which can all lead it to begin degrading.

If you notice that the internal walls around your chimney are becoming discoloured or damaged it may be a sign the chimney has an unseen internal issue such as water damage or severe cracking which is causing the surrounding walls to become visibly damaged as well.

This can cause more serious issues as the chimney is often structurally central to the home so if it becomes damaged and is not fixed it can cause many other issues.

For chimney repair in Telford contact Meyrick Builders And Roofers today!

Why Spring Is The Ideal Time For You To Fix The Roof

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Now that the equinox has come and gone, the days are longer than the nights and spring is well and truly with us.

That fact might get you outdoors more, whether it is into the garden or simply off to enjoy the outdoors more in warmer weather, but when you walk out of the door you should consider the roof above you.

While you might have cause to use roofing services in Wolverhampton at various times of the year, spring is the best time for a full-scale roof check and, if needs be, a major repair job.

There are multiple reasons for this. Firstly, after a long autumn winter there may have been significant damage to the roof caused by cold, damp weather and falling debris blown by the wind. While this winter has been pretty mild in some respects – the Met Office only recorded one named storm, and that (Otto) was actually christened by the Danes – it is still important to check all is well.

A second good reason to have work done in the spring is a more practical one. Summer is a very busy time for roofers for obvious reasons; with the weather at its warmest and driest and daylight at its longest, it offers the best conditions for outdoor work. It also ensures homes are not left feeling very cold indoors due to there being a temporary gap in the roof.

What that means, of course, is that lots of people try to get work done in the summer. But as good builders will be busy with plenty of jobs at the busiest time of year, there could be a longer wait. In some cases the diary will be full and your preferred roofer may not be able to fit you in.

For that reason, it makes sense to get the work started in the spring. That way, you can get the best roofers on the job while they are available and ensure that well before the end of summer your roof is in great shape to deal with whatever next autumn and winter might throw at it.