Can someone please clarify what kind of "extension" this is supposed to be? What is shown in the photo is not part of the house and therefore not an extension (see missing foundation base).
If there were now a slim wooden staircase with wooden railing installed and a porch roof without side panels, no one would think to make such a fuss, even though it would actually be no different.
This is simply a staircase with a masonry parapet railing, which was certainly permit-free back then. Furthermore, a porch roof that would still be permit-free today due to the short overhang (as well as the small portion of the house wall length it protrudes from). So why make such a big deal out of it now?