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

sooz

OP - I'd edit the post with the links, or atleast the pdf. You've just published your neighbours name & address, together with photos of their house.

The front extension looks wierd, & if none of the other houses have one, I'd concentrate your efforts on that.

vegasvisitor

It's sort of looking like it's jamming you in the corner and blocking you off. Are you at the end of the street or a lane? Will you therefore hardly see your house as you approach?

qwertyzxcvb

sooz wrote: »

OP - I'd edit the post with the links, or atleast the pdf. You've just published your neighbours name & address, together with photos of their house.

The front extension looks wierd, & if none of the other houses have one, I'd concentrate your efforts on that.

Thank you - have just removed personal details.
Thank you for your advice as well.

qwertyzxcvb

lesley74 wrote: »

It's sort of looking like it's jamming you in the corner and blocking you off.

Exactly...

lesley74 wrote: »

Are you at the end of the street or a lane? Will you therefore hardly see your house as you approach?

We are just a bit further from the road (there are parking bays in front of a few houses). Our next neighbour's house (on the right looking from pictures) is just nearer the street.

real1314

I think the fron extension would look more appropriate if it were done across both properties, with a roofline to reflect the style of the 1st floor roof.
Maybe discuss this woth the neighbour and ask them to pay for it (or most/half of it?)? You could end up with more space for little outlay.

Given that the existing style of the house is fairly bland, this could add a bit of character?

Fire_Fox

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

I think this is an absolute disgrace and I'd put it in writing to the council what you were advised by planning. You have every right to object and for your objections to be considered properly.

Poppy9

Fire_Fox wrote: »

I think this is an absolute disgrace and I'd put it in writing to the council what you were advised by planning. You have every right to object and for your objections to be considered properly.

I thought the OP was referring to a private planning agent that they would have to pay, not a council planning officer.

qwertyzxcvb

Poppy9 wrote: »

I thought the OP was referring to a private planning agent that they would have to pay, not a council planning officer.

Yes, that was the case (sorry if I wasnt clear in my previous post). I'll be contacting a council planning officer tomorrow.

Also the neighbour on the other side (by the way they are not really interested in doing anything since they are sold and moving out shortly) mentioned that this kind of extension (at the back) is not allowed for this type of house (i.e. extension is too big/long). Not sure whether he was right but need to check that on. Can it be the case?

lincroft1710

I think your neighbour has got his wires crossed, I've come across hundreds, if not thousands of houses with similar or larger rear extensions and there must be hundreds of thousands, if not millions throughout the country.

Although front extension seems out of place, and again I've come across quite a few, in no way are these massive extensions. If the plans were drawn up by a competent qualified architect, he would be doing neither himself nor his client any favours by submitting plans which are likely to be turned down. A good architect would advise his client as far as poss. on whether type of extension is suitable. Not all architects/planning consultants are that conscientious though.

qwertyzxcvb

hello again. it's an intensive afternoon trying to get as much info on what is allowed and what is not.

I have found the following facts on our council website which may apply to what is being planned behind the wall:
Permitted development subject to the following limits and conditions:
- no extension forward of the principal elevation or side elevation fronting a highway
[...]
does highway mean highway only or it is any street?

maximum depth of a single storey rear extension of 3m for an attached house and 4m for a detached house
[...]
it is a semi-detached house (us being the other half) - does it mean they are going over the limit by 1m (their rear extension is planned for 4m.

I have also found that area of their planned extension (front and back) is ~36sq. m. whereas the existing living area is 88sq. m. - isn't that to big? (no mention about proportions on the council website though but found it somewhere else)


Also, on the site of our council:

"Rights of light
If the works involve the carrying out of works that may in any way interfere with the amount of light received by the adjoining property, your are advised to consult with the owner of the property at the design stage. Consultation before commencement may avoid claims for damages due to loss of light after the building has been erected. Any disputes arising over rights of light should be resolved between you and your neighbour as they are matters of civil law."

That obviously has not happened but I can probably refer to that right (that's what we are really and truly concerned about).

Dinah93 wrote: »

However the front would wreak the building line and have a detrimental effect on the streetscene, so I wouldn't reccomend approval unless they withdrew this element, provided no one else in the street has already done this big front box thing.

Actually, on the street there are several houses like our one and not one have a front extension like that. They are porches though, which are similar to the planned extension but just not as wide - they just cover the front door.
Do you reckon we can still mention "the detrimental effect on the street scene" in our letter?
I can surely say (as you suggested) about the "the strong coherance of the existing housing design, and that the front extension will remove the obvious building line which will over time erode the quality of the properties in the area."

Also, is it worth mentioning we wouldn't mind if they had a new porch instead of this massive extension (to show our good will and that we do not object just for the sake of objection) or it does not matter?

Looking forward to your comments in regards to the first part of this post.

And thank you for all your posts to date.
S.