Atlantic Road, Great Barr, Birmingham

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House extension approved under the Prior Apporval for Larger Home Extensions Scheme.

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Following an initial consultation with the applicants En-Plan drafted a scheme that was subsequently submitted to and approved by Birmingham City Council for the extension of the ground floor by six metres in order to add a new lounge and utility room to the rear and utilise the existing front lounge as an additional bedroom.   The property is locvated in Great Barr in north Birmingahm. Great Barr is now a large and loosely defined area to the north-west of Birmingham, England. The area was historically in Staffordshire, and the parts now in Birmingham were once known as Perry Barr, which is still the name of an adjacent Birmingham district. Other areas known as Great Barr are in the Metropolitan Boroughs of Walsall and Sandwell. "Barr" means "hill", and the name refers to nearby Barr Beacon.

 

This was allowed under the Prior Approval Scheme that allows householder to extend their houses by up to six metres in the case of semi-detached units without the need for a full application.  Please refer to our Prior Approval for Larger Home Extensions page for more details.  The benefit of using this schemm as opposed to a householder planning applicvation is that the full weight of the Birmingham Design Guide cannot be used to judge the application.  This is imprtant as Birmingam City Council would be using the 45 degre code to judge the application and this can sometime prove problematic, especiallly as the applicanst chose to use a paarepot wall in the design.

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A Parapet wall

Put simply, a parapet wall (also referred to as fire walls) is an extended wall that extends above your roof level. This gives street viewers the illusion that a building is taller than its actual height.Parapet walls also act as a barrier for your roof edge and can also be useful when constructing terraces, walkways, balconies, etc.Back then, these walls served as a protective layer against ground attacks of military forces; however, that’s not the case anymore today. [R] History and aesthetics aside, this wall serves various protective functions and benefits for buildings, which we’ll discuss in the next section.

 

Benefits of a Parapet Wall

In this section, we’ll share with you how installing a parapet wall can benefit your roof system or building.

 

Wind Resistance

When strong winds blow against your roof or building, the vortices produced target your roof edges. With enough power, these forces can lift your roof edge and damage your roof system. These walls help prevent elevated wind pressure and provide better protection to your roof structure and roof assemblies.

 

Protection Against Fire

Fire is a dangerous element your roofing membrane is especially vulnerable to. These walls help prevent the fire from spreading to the exterior of your building and roof structure.

 

Prevents Water Leaks & Damage

You might have noticed large pools of rainwater on top of your roof after a heavy storm. Left untreated, these pools of water can seep into your walls and cause further damage to your roof.

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If you would like to find out more about how our Planning Consultancy and Architectural Design Services can work in perfect sync to achieve a successful outcome in the planning system please CONTACT US and we will be only too happy to talk through any questions or development proposals you may have.

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