Hi all, not strictly DIY (although there will be an aspect of that towards the end!) but as there are knowledgable people on here I pormised to ask...
My inlaws currently have a downstair loo (small room, toilet and small basin) that is next to a larger (maybe 2m square) cloakroom come cupboard. Plan is/was to knock down the joining wall (not load bearing), fit new loo + basin and install a shower cubicle.
Having had Dolphin in to quote and having laughed at their 14k quote they have now had a local plumbing company (much bigger than a one-man-and-his-dog setup but still a decent local company who they have used before) in to quote and they have offered to do all but the wall demolishing *and* fitting a rather whizzy 1500 quid shower setup for 5.5k all in. Much more sensible.
Problem is they also mentioned building regs/permission and suggested that my inlaws talked to the council...
Council were sent a letter asking for advice. Letter contained a diagram of the proposals and asked if planning or building control permission was required. Response from the council has been a very glossy folder containing some documents that make little sense and a price list that doesn't tie in with any of the documentation - further attempts at contacting the council have not produced anything more useful so far!
So, anyone on here got any ideas? There was mention of "building notices" being needed but not a "full building plan submission" (although a footnote claims that they still need to pay the plan cost even though they are not submitting plans!)
It will be a change of use of sorts - but then a different view on it would be a simple extension of an existing bathroom! They are now considering giving up on the idea or going ahead and just not telling the council and geting on with it.
Any words of wisdom before they go back to the council again next week? Is this something that people would think would need planning permission? I realise that the work should be done to current building code but is this likely to need the 180quid inspection?? Also, the costs seem to be in relation to the price of the project - does this really mean that they have to pay an extra 100 quid to have it inspected simply because they have chosen a rather posh expense shower? Howabout if their "inspected" shower consisted of a couple of pipes sticking out of the wall - would they then be free to add the expensive shower later? Could they get the very basics (knock wall down, plumb in a cheap and nasty shower) done first to come in below the expensive prices and then upgrade to the whizzy stuff later?
Cheers,
Darren - confused having read all the paperwork this afternoon!