My neighbour wants to build a massive extension? WHAT CAN I DO?

qwertyzxcvb

Hello,

I have just received a letter from the council about the application for planning permission of my neighbour. Apparently he wants to build extensions in front and at the back of the house which will make our house much darker and generally less pleasant. I reckon the rear one would be ok, but the front one is a disaster for us.

Can we object to it at all? What can be done? What can I do to block his plans? If he builds it, value of our house will go down surely.
Rear extension: single storey, 3.7m long, width of the house
Front extension: single storey, 1.6m long, width of the house
House: semi detached (we share it with them)

Please tell me something can be done...

Planner

The letter you have recieved from the Council should contain details of how to register your objections. Do it quickly as officially, you only have 21 days.

You will need to concentrate on 'valid' planning reasons why you dont want the extensions (the value of your house isnt one of them).

Have a look at the free advice from Planning Aid http://www.planningaid.rtpi.org.uk/

Pee

I think light is a one of the valid grounds. Your local planning office may help. You need to be clinical about this and write a craeful calm letter focused on the planning problems and not the "real" problem, which is of course the value of your house.

qwertyzxcvb

thanks for your reply.
what would be valid points then? having a massive wall just next to the living room's window, less sun, darkness, obstructed view from the window?

andrew09

We did object against a neighbour's development when we were living in Australia.
Firstly, understand the planning process (ie. at which points you can appeal)
Secondly look in detail at the planning regulations in your area and set out a written case as to why this proposed extension is not in accordance with them (from both their perspective and yours, eg. there may be requirements to not overdevelop a plot etc, as well as the impact of the reduced light to your house).
Thirdly, find out who else has got the same letter and talk to them as well as bringing it to the attention of any other neighbours who may be interested in objecting.
Finallly (and this may be should be firstly), talk to your neighbour. Did he bring the plans round before the council sent you the letter (I'm guessing not - I do think that's a bit rude to be honest; we've always approached the neighbours). You may find from talking to him that he's trying it on a bit - and by first going for some huge extension thinks that he's more likely to get the medium sized one he really wants.
Good luck

sooz

I don't think your loss of light is a valid objection. Certainly your loss of value is not. Nor is it simply being a hideous monstrosity
Have a look at your local council website for their criteria for objections. Check their Development Plan. And look at other planning applications & objections online.
But as others have said, act fast.
http://www.planning-applications.co.uk/objection.htm has more information

googler

"I don't think your loss of light is a valid objection."

It is according to previous planning apps in my county. Plenty of planning decisions where the planning officers have commented on the presence or absence of 'harmful overlooking' of neighbouring properties.

"Certainly your loss of value is not. Nor is it simply being a hideous monstrosity."

On the second point, again, plenty of precedence in my area for applications to be considered in keeping with the general character of the area, not being an overdevelopment of a site, etc., and plenty of occasions where applications rejected for these reasons.

"Have a look at your local council website for their criteria for objections. Check their Development Plan. And look at other planning applications & objections online."

Agree with all of these. Get online and look first at the previous planning applns in your street, then neighbouring streets, then whole town and county. Is the neighbour's appln contravening anything in the county's local plan?

Also, the Duty Planning Officer at your local council is there to provide free advice and information to ALL members of the public, whether applicant, objector or bystander. Consult with him/her on valid grounds for objection, guidance on local plans, etc.

qwertyzxcvb

hello

thank you for all these helpful advices. I have just called and agent which frequently assists with planning permissions in the area (found them on the council website) and they told me this development is within the limits and there is nothing they can do for me and it would be just my money wasted. I can write a letter but they are pretty sure my objection will be rejected.

I really like living here

Crystallady

sooz wrote: »

I don't think your loss of light is a valid objection. Certainly your loss of value is not. Nor is it simply being a hideous monstrosity
Have a look at your local council website for their criteria for objections. Check their Development Plan. And look at other planning applications & objections online.
But as others have said, act fast.
http://www.planning-applications.co.uk/objection.htm has more information

I agree our rear neighbour has just built a large extension in their garden which backs on to ours. Because they are on a higher level than us the extension towers about 18ft above the 8 ft fence and is within 3ft of their boundary. We objected on the grounds of light and privacy but with no success.
Hope you fare better

sooz

googler wrote: »

"I don't think your loss of light is a valid objection."

It is according to previous planning apps in my county. Plenty of planning decisions where the planning officers have commented on the presence or absence of 'harmful overlooking' of neighbouring properties.

"Certainly your loss of value is not. Nor is it simply being a hideous monstrosity."

On the second point, again, plenty of precedence in my area for applications to be considered in keeping with the general character of the area, not being an overdevelopment of a site, etc., and plenty of occasions where applications rejected for these reasons.

I guess you are lucky. In my area we are so densly packed in, loss of light is inevitable with any building or extension. Unless you were trying to build over my garden it would not be a valid objection. If overlooking, they make them install frosted glass.
Hideous monstrosity was tongue in cheek, & meant in the OP's opinion. This is why I suggested he check the Development Plans & other applications/objections which will specificy what is & isn't in keeping for the area.

googler

qwertyzxcvb wrote: »

hello

thank you for all these helpful advices. I have just called and agent which frequently assists with planning permissions in the area (found them on the council website) and they told me this development is within the limits and there is nothing they can do for me and it would be just my money wasted. I can write a letter but they are pretty sure my objection will be rejected.

I really like living here

Second opinion from another planning agent?

Which county are you in?