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Hi, im about to buy a house in a conservation area. The whole point of the purchase is that there is ample room on the boundary at the rear of the back garden to take down an existing large shed/garage and replace with a timber built garden office. Otherwise I will be working from home in the main bedroom for the rest of my career (I don't mind for the initial 12 months or so)
I intend to do the build myself but main concerns are:
1. it will be a 2.5m limited in height build but probably will need planning approval as its a conservation area. The current shed/garage is an eyesore and is at the rear of the property, effectively on a ginnel, so it's inconceivable that I won't get permission or there'll will be any problems but still a concern
2. the rear wall of the garden office is an external wall facing a ginnel that is accessible by anyone so I'm concerned about security. If I did a timber built garden office with wooden cladding then someone could just drive up and take a chainsaw down the back so as far as I can see can either (a) clad in metal, but this might be an issue with conservation area approval or (b) breezeblock the rear side only and then timber build the other 3 walls. I could probably do rough block work but don't know how to tie this in a timber build or (c) build external wall in stone work thats sympathetic to the area to guarantee planning approval but is going to be prohibitively expensive
I think I'll either back out of the purchase or either go for (b) i.e. block work then timber clad.
Ideally I'd timber build the whole thing but like I said security concerns.
Anyone had the same dilemma and what did you do?
If the nails and screws in the construction of the wall don't stop a chain saw, then some Dyneema or other rope incorporated into the wall will.
https://www.forestry.com/editorial/equipments/chain-saw-protection-worlds-strongest/
Seriously? I’m done with windows made of glass because somebody can just chuck a brick through them, concrete blocks for me now. 😉
I think your over thinking it.
Also think your over thinking it but as above, out doesn't take much metal to blunt a chainsaw chain, plus a chainsaw is not a stealthy tool. Tack weldmesh to the frame before cladding and it will stop a chainsaw.
If the nails and screws in the construction of the wall don’t stop a chain saw, then some Dyneema or other rope incorporated into the wall will.
My back door is reinforced with this, no idea why, but it is.
The simple task of cutting a 200x200mm hole to pop a catflap in took half the day and burnt out a cheap jigsaw, and about 6 blades. The interior door took about 15 minutes to mark, cut and fit.
I hate to break it to you but a concrete saw will go through a breeze block wall in no time. How about the armour plating they put on warships?
More seriously, just some chicken wire sandwiched in between cladding and the timber structure would probably be enough to stop a chainsaw.
You'll need building regs as it's made from a flammable material and within 1 m of the boundary. I looked at timber build for my garage extension, the cost was similar to brick. In the end I built in brick with tiled roof to match the existing garage. Still did everything myself by hand.
On point 1., your assertion that it is inconceivable that you would get refused planning permission is foolish, and unnecessary too. Call the planning office, tell them what you envisage in outline, and see what they say. It might cost money to do so, but you’re buying a house, the whole process ain’t cheap.
A conservation area will have critical aspects and less critical. For example it might be the street, footway and walls fronting them and side elevations are less of an issue. Equally, it could be all of the buildings as well. You do need to check
Demolition will always need PP, as will major tree work
Permitted development exemptions are normlly suspended in a conservation area as well.
You can add hidden security as suggested above ^^
Also if you're in a conservation area and require planning, then I'd look at going higher than 2.5m. Although this is coming from someone 6'5" so if you're a normal height may be less of an issue.
Call the planning office, tell them what you envisage in outline, and see what they say. It might cost money to do so, but you’re buying a house, the whole process ain’t cheap.
Except they won't speak to you and will only look at a pte approval application which could still take a year they their opinion on.... Planning departments, are busy but they also love to make work for themselves and be rude to boot.
Except they won’t speak to you and will only look at a pte approval application which could still take a year they their opinion on…
I've phoned up our planning dept to chat through an idea and they were very helpful.....
If you're worried about someone chainsawing into your home office, I'd be looking for a different house in a very different area.
What do you work on that is so valuable?