Terrace planning for a corner terraced house with a large garden - What to consider?

I want to know exactly what I am allowed to do and what not, then look for alternatives, find compromises.

uh sorry.......so finding compromises does not seem to be the goal in this and the parallel thread, but rather the absolute maximum for yourself each time.

Unfortunately, our building authority is very slow and lazy, or rather they would prefer to have no building requests at all, but later they come and inspect.

Please be so kind and stay down to earth. The others are always lazy and stupid, once the neighbor, then the building authority......

You just can’t rely on the authority to get good advice and that they make an effort, ultimately I would have to submit a building request.

With your apparent volatility here, without actually responding concretely to suggestions, the attitude of the building authority is completely understandable and the only appropriate one: "Please write down exactly what you really want and submit a request for it, which we will then answer."

The question now is how I strategically approach the matter.

Best WITHOUT strategy, but simply just draw the desired terrace etc., submit a request and wait for an answer. Then you have clarity, everything else here just causes a headache when reading.

So my head is boiling. I will submit a preliminary building request with all my wishes and have it checked.

Yeppp

Unfortunately, our building authority is very slow and lazy, or rather they prefer not to have any building applications at all, but later they come to complain.

I find it remarkable that there are so many difficult people around you.

The question now is how I approach the matter strategically.

In principle, that is not particularly difficult, although some people have more or less problems with the individual steps. First, find out what is really important and sort your own priorities. Then draft a solution that meets these requirements, aligns with the regulations, and stays within your budget framework. Since the priorities are clear, you can tell a good story about the solution. Always think about the benefit to others. With this solution and the story, go personally to the authority, present it (well organized), and obtain approval. Afterwards, proceed to the detailed planning of the solution and implement it. The success largely depends on good and personal communication with the authority. Of course, it helps me that I usually do not perceive my environment as difficult and do not tend to nervousness, complaining, or applying pressure. With some calmness, you very rarely crash against a wall with authorities. So far, I have always obtained special permits I wanted at different authorities and in different places. Most of the time, I had a "cut position" with me. In this way, the decision-makers could secure themselves so that they did not simply approve everything. If there were fees for this, I paid them. So much for the strategy.

I find it remarkable that there are so many difficult people around you.

In principle, it is not particularly difficult, although some people have more or less problems with the individual steps.

First, find out what is really important and sort your own priorities.

Then sketch out a solution that meets these requirements, aligns with the regulations, and stays within your own budget. Since the priorities are clear, you can tell a good story about the solution. Always think about the benefit to others.

With this solution and the story, personally go to the office, present it (well organized), and obtain approval.

Then proceed to the detailed planning of the solution and implement it.

The success largely depends on good and personal communication with the office.

Of course, it helps me that I usually do not perceive my environment as difficult and do not tend to nervousness, nagging, or applying pressure. With some calm, you very rarely hit a wall with authorities.

So far, I have always received the special permits I wanted from various authorities and in different places. Most of the time, I had a "cut position" included. This way, the decision-makers could secure themselves that they had not simply approved everything. If there were fees for this, I paid them.

So much for the strategy.

Hello dear Wiltshire,

Thank you very much for your reply. I have formulated a building inquiry but was still torn because someone from the neighborhood said she wouldn't ask anything anymore – she builds whatever and however she wants. I can understand that as well, because it is really annoying what is happening here in the new development area. Some rules really make no sense, they are established and then lifted again for this reason. Right after that, I read your message and agree with you. I always have to be on the safe side and cannot do anything without 100 percent certainty.

The office is annoying, lazy, often doesn't feel like working, but I have always had a good connection to the authorities and got the bay window approved as a special case at that time. It was a lot of work to read into everything and apply for everything myself, since neither the construction company nor the related architect managed anything and the office kept requesting something additionally. Both somehow talked past each other. So I did it myself: spoke with the office about what they want and how, prepared the documents and only had the architect sign them – and got approval for everything.

I will do it this way again now. The office is lazy but nice and friendly, i.e., with a personal conversation, it should work well, I think.

Thanks also for the hints! I will add something to the application about why I need the 2 terraces (barrier-free?) and that it fits in the picture and doesn’t bother anyone or overshadow – it is in proportion.

I will also pay the fees, that’s clear.

I admit, it sounds a bit unplanned in the forum, but I had to start somewhere somehow. It took a while until I had a gardener, and everyone told me something different. Prices and offers were very different, it’s not easy after all and it took a long time until I got to the point where I ask for a building inquiry.

I have now found someone who will build it cheaply for me, recommended by an acquaintance. Now the question is how big I’m allowed – and can afford it. Depending on how big I am allowed, I will weigh which stones I take. I have some that cost 23 euros/m², up to 60 euros/m².

So the plan:

[*]Tomorrow morning email to the building authority to find out exactly who receives the building inquiry. Then send out the email with the preliminary inquiry. In parallel, arrange an appointment for the personal submission and discussion. The appointment only makes sense if the inquiry is available, they have worked on it a bit, and know they have to answer it. Otherwise, they just brush you off. They are nice but don’t give information – I was there again a little while ago. So I think: first send by email, then make the appointment and go speak personally.


[*]Once the approval is available, I will choose the terrace stones and place the order.


[*]I have already selected both terrace sizes. Terrace 1: 8.50 x 4.20 = 35.70 m² and terrace 2 from the bay window: 4.00 x 3.00 m = 12 m².


[*]I can afford and pay for that. Terrace roof: 7 x 4 m, so 28 m².


[*]So I have settled on the sizes. If I get this approved, I will also know how much I am allowed to seal or how strictly they evaluate it, how exact the calculation is, and how much buffer I have. Then I will consider how to connect the terraces. If necessary, that will be a few extra m² that I build "illegally," or I will alternatively take another covering or something else, depending on the approval. For an illegal connection, it would only be a rather small area, which I could also risk – in case of an inspection, not everything but only the corner would be too much... but I will only know that later.

So, that is the plan. I would like to thank everyone who supported me with their posts and helped me and took the time for me. I will keep you updated.

Wow, a great plan!
Nowadays it is really difficult to deal with all the incompetent people. You have to do so much yourself to make sure something is done properly.

Wow, a great plan!
Nowadays it is very difficult to deal with all the incompetent people. You have to do so much yourself to make sure something is done properly.

Yes, above all, you have to be able to look away from pointless posts in the forum.
You can have your opinion and refuse to see it, I don't have to justify myself when I am surrounded by people I categorize differently than you think.

Hello!

Just for your information, I have submitted the preliminary building inquiry by email, spoken to someone personally, and got an appointment for Thursday. The processing time is 4 weeks, as he already told me on the phone. It’s not a problem; I was already expecting that. I will still go and talk in person.

I asked a caseworker again, without mentioning my case specifically, about terraces and roofing.

A terrace without roofing is generally not a problem outside the building window.

The problem is the terrace roofing, which then counts as part of the main building, and MUST ALWAYS be within the building window. Now, my main terrace has a building window depth of 175 cm. This means I am only allowed to make a roofing up to 175 cm, but I applied for 4 meters. That is 2.25 meters beyond the building window. Toward the street, I would still have over 6 meters. Along the house there would be no problem because the building window runs along the house. The neighbor also has roofing beyond the building window (3 meters). I don’t know if he has a permit. I rather think not, judging by him. Now my question: how do you assess this; do you think I will get approval for the roofing? What would be the arguments I should present to be allowed a 4-meter-deep roofing? I would rather not take an awning etc.

Floor area ratio and so on would not be a problem, the terrace alone probably wouldn’t either, but the roofing. Is this still within limits? Especially since otherwise, I could hardly put any roofing on the house.