Statute of Limitations-old porch!

Hi,

My query is about the Statute of Limitations and whether it applies to the following situation:

I am selling my late mother’s house, which she purchased in 1993. It is a semi-detatched house with a large porch to the front, greater than the 2sqm allowed. The porch was added by the previous owner, some time before 1978, the house itself having been constructed some 6 years earlier still.

No Planning Search documents were included with the House Deeds now in my possession, and therefore it seems the solicitor representing my mother in 1993 possibly didn’t check to see if planning permission was sought/given for the porch development.

As there is now doubt as to whether planning permission was applied for and received, I wonder if I now need to apply for RETENTION permission, of can I claim exemption under a “Statute of Limitation Clause” in the Planning Acts?
NB. All old records for Planning are archived, and I have been quoted a delay of 2 MONTHS before the Co. Council can say if planning permission had ever been sought! I’m therefore hoping to somehow avoid the RETENTION route, as the buyer won’t wait the three months delay this entails.