Objecting to Planning Application

sarah_elton

Errr not quite sure what board this should be on - nothing to do with money but thought someone on here might know anyway...

I want to object to a planning notice. There's an address on it to write to. I assume I just write a letter stating that I want to object with the reasons.

Is there any set format it's meant to take? Anything specific that should be included etc?

Also, will the person who applied know that it was me who objected? I.e. will I get eggs through my letterbox?

poppysarah

You've got to find objections that are allowed - there's been a couple of threads on it recently so read through them and find the list of objections worth using.

And put a SAE in for a receipt.

sarah_elton

I've just had a look and I don't think my reasons are valid. It doesn't contravene planning guidelines, or disturb my privacy etc.

It's a ridiculous situation. I live in a purpose built block of 6 flats. The development I live on consists of severaly identical blocks.

Obviously all the flats are leasehold. Under the terms of our lease, we are not allowed to put up satellite dishes. We have a communal dish on each building we can connect to.

In the building next to mine, one person kept putting up their own dish. The management company kept taking it down, he'd put it back up... The problem is he wants to pick up Polish TV which he can't do through the communal dish.

He's now applied for planning permission to put up a satellite dish!

It shouldn't be a council issue. The terms of the leasehold are clear, and if it was that important he shouldn't have bought or rented the flat. It will set a precedent which could result in other residents being given permission to install their own dishes, and blocks of flats covered in satellite dishes are so unsightly. (There is an incentive to install your own, as we have to pay the people who run the communal dish a small monthly service charge on top of our Sky subs). And surely people shouldn't be able to circumvent leasehold contracts through the planning process! It's ridiculous. Again, it sets a precedent for people wanting to get around other clauses.

fluffyb

I have objected to a planning application successfully [long fight and long story though]

You should get as many residents to object as possible. Each should do it individually to count - a petition would only count as one objection

Contact your local counciller and get him on board. He will have some clout - if he says he doesn't he is wrong!!!!!!! Our councillor was instrumental in stopping the one we objected about.

Good luck

sarah_elton

I found the application and one of the Directors of the freehold company has objected, stating simply that the applicant doesn't own the freehold, and that the company does and he is a Director of it.

Is this a valid reason for objection?

poppysarah

Speak to the management company and then go get a petition up and hand it in.

Although you might meet a few other people who'd like to be able to get other types of satelite

CLAPTON

I see no reason why you can't object on the grounds its unsightly and out of character with the other buildings.
Councils do take note of teh number of objections.

your objection is a matter of the public record and can be viewed by anyone.

the matter of the lease is for the freeholder and is not a planning matter so even if planning permisiion is given then the freeholder can still stop the person putting a disk up

sarah_elton

poppysarah wrote: »

Although you might meet a few other people who'd like to be able to get other types of satelite

Yep - from the minutes of the AGM people have complained about the service charge we pay to the company that 'runs' the dish, and do want to change the communal system.

It just annoys me that people can potentially get around leasehold provisions like this. It's the principle of it.

On the other hand I'm planning on selling up next year so I shouldn't get this het up about it lol.

sarah_elton

CLAPTON wrote: »

the matter of the lease is for the freeholder and is not a planning matter so even if planning permisiion is given then the freeholder can still stop the person putting a disk up

This is useful. So does the lease carry more weight than the council's planning decision? The owner/renter obviously thinks it's the other way round as after several attempts to persuade the management company they're now applying to the council.

clairedurham

Hi,

Now I don't know the ins and outs of your lease or any covenents but even if this guy gets planning permission it doesn't mean he does not have to comply with other rules ie the lease.

I could apply for planning permission tomorrow to build a shed on your back garden, I may get planning permission but obviously I wouldn't get your permission.

Planning doesn't really concern itself with who owns what and convenents etc. I have a convenent on my house that says I can't keep chickens or livestock but that doesn't prevent me from getting planning permission to build a chicken shed!

Hope you understand what I'm getting at.

This should mean that if your lease says you're not allowed your own dishes then tough even with planning permission he's still not allowed it.

However your lease might be worded differently in that he can put up a dish only if he gets relevant planning permissions.

You can object to the planning application on the grounds that it will look unsightly but that is subjective and quite difficult to judge and depends what else is already up on your roof.

planning_officer

sarah_elton wrote: »

It just annoys me that people can potentially get around leasehold provisions like this. It's the principle of it.

Just to clarify, the lease and planning permission are two entirely different things - someone could get permission under one of these but neither overides the other - in order for someone to be able to put up a dish they will need to get planning permission AND get permission from the leaseholder. Therefore, even if this person is granted planning permission, without the consent of the leaseholder, it means absolutely nothing!