OT: Ambitious DIY.

FWLIW, the builder has responded:

If it's part of a "second floor extension", I think he needs planning consent.

If it is residential won't he also need Building Control involvement?

Single 6" block unlikely to meet thermal performance requirements:-)

He certainly needs Building Regulations approval

I don't think we need to wait for the finished job to see just how bad the build quality is.

I see a lot of retrospective planning applications for major changes to extensions here in Kingston from time to time. In the main they get their way, but occasionally where the structures safety has been compromised its an expensive job to rectify and sometimes they have to demolish the lot and start again. I do wonder sometimes whether anyone actually realises about the safety aspects, since when I used to go abroad to places like Canary Isles, you would see some very weird external extras like girders holding the building up on the outside and stuff like that.

Brian

Who are these people and why do they have a right to put a shed in my garden (wouldn't mind another one, especially free)? "The homeowner said he believed that the extension was allowed under permitted development rights. These are the same rights which allow people to put up a shed of a certain height in your garden.".

Har har.

I suppose the extension is OK if it is at the back and no higher than the house (as is the case here).

Unfortunately, if this doesn't need planning permission they can build it however they like. I suppose if it falls down, tough.

Even if it doesn't need Planning Permission it still needs Building Regs approval since it's a habitable dwelling

Wrong. Planning permissions is not building regulations.

Building regulations apply even if no permission has been sought needed or granted by the planning authority.

Of course it takes a nosy neighbour to let them know its even happening