Extension and planning drawings in Ware

What is special about building in Ware?

Ware grew along the River Lea, and the town still shows its trading past. The centre has many old maltings, merchants' houses and Victorian terraces, and the streets running off the main road often have long, narrow plots. Further out are interwar and post-war estates, with villages such as Stanstead Abbotts and Great Amwell within the same postcode district.

A long thin plot rewards a careful design. A rear extension can add a lot of room, but it also has to leave daylight and privacy for the houses on each side.

Which council decides?

SG12 is in East Herts Council's area. The council's planning department decides applications, and council building control inspects work, although a registered building control approver can do so instead. Edge addresses can sit elsewhere, so check by postcode.

Which parts of Ware are protected?

Ware has a conservation area around its historic centre, and Stanstead Abbotts and Great Amwell have their own. Listed buildings are common near the High Street and the river. Conversions of old malting buildings and other historic structures can need both planning permission and listed building consent, and they usually have unusual structures that a designer needs to understand.

Some riverside and town-centre properties sit on low ground near the Lea, and larger projects may prompt questions about flood risk. Ask the designer to look at the Environment Agency's flood map for planning early.

What kinds of projects come up?

• side-return and rear extensions to Victorian terraces
• loft conversions on semis and terraces, where a dormer must suit the street
• extending village cottages, where size is judged against the original house
• converting garages on estates, where the original planning conditions are worth reading

What about drains and neighbours?

Terraced streets have shared drains and sewers, and since 2011 many shared pipes belong to the water company, which must agree if you build over or close to them. Shared walls mean a party wall notice may be needed for lofts, side returns and foundations.

What happens when I enquire?

Send your postcode, the type of house and what you want to change. With your consent, your enquiry is passed to a architectural designer, if one covers your postcode. If nobody does, we tell you and keep your details to ourselves.