Mr

[Guest Phil777]

I live in a 3 story house. On the ground floor is a garage, hallway and bathroom. The living room and kitchen are on the first floor and the bedrooms on the top floor. The house has a contained stairway (comprised of solid walls on the ground and first floors) running from the top to the bottom of the property with self closing doors but not fire doors.  There are patio doors on the first floor ( it’s built into a hillside) leading to a courtyard garden with an escape access over a low wall. Given that there is an easy escape route from the first floor could we remove the stairway walls and doors on the first floor to create more living space?

Thanks

[AnthonyB]

You would need to approach your Local Authority Building Control - they may require compensatory measures such as a residential sprinkler system or an LD1 alarm system (linked detectors in all rooms other than the bathroom as well as the landings).

In your application you need to demonstrate how your plans will not lower the level of safety beyond existing measures and those following the default configuration under Building Regs Guidance.

It's down to the individual Building Control authority on a case by case basis so all you can do is ask them.