Opposing a Planning Application - How

moggins

Huge apologies if I have posted this in the wrong place but I didn't know where else to put it where someone would know about building regs etc?

We've just been hit with a huge bombshell today as the owners of the house next door (they don't live there) have applied for planning permission to build a house down the bottom of their garden. We live in a row of terraced houses with very long but narrow back gardens.

There is already two houses back to back on the left side of my garden (the one at the bottom was built in the 50's when an old pub was knocked down and two years ago permission was granted for 2 flats to be built across the road directly facing my back gates.

If this house is built it will be like living in a goldfish bowl, I know there is no right to privacy but when we bought this house 7 years ago there was no clue anything like this would ever happen. It's a very built up area with no parking for anyone and I wouldn't have dreamed that anyone could have thought they could squeeze yet more houses in

Does anyone have any idea of grounds I could use to oppose this? We've never fought a planning application before and I don't even know where to start?

bigmuffins

We were in a similar position a while back - I'll pm you with a copy of the letter we sent. HTH

moggins

Thank you, how did yours work out?

Debt_Free_Chick

The best way to oppose a planning application, is using the planning rules themselves. Objecting on grounds of privacy, light etc is pointless as we have no right to light or privacy (in the sense of how close another property is to ours).

You need to look at the local authority development plan as this will outline where they are likely to agree to applications for new development. You may be in an area already identified by the local authority for new development. Even so, this proposed property needs to meet the local plan. Also, consideration to the overall size/scale of the building is required - is it consistent with existing dwellings or oversized? What about access to the new dwelling - is there convenient and safe access to an existing road? Will a new access have to built? You've already identified the lack of parking locally, so one objection would be that the additional vehicles would add to existing parking difficulties - unless the plans include some off-road parking (which if the developer has any sense, they would!).

Here's an application to build a dwelling in a local village - click on the Decision Notice. This lists the reasons why the application was refused. Note that reference is made to the local plan and the fact that this application was not consistent with that plan. Also note, that the reason for refusal did not make any reference to the objections received from local neighbours and the Parish Council!

It's not as simple as saying "I don't want it here". One development in our area had 42 objections from local residents, but it still got passed because it fitted the planning guidelines ... so object on planning issues, not personal issues.

HTH

tazgirl

Also worth checking if any trees need to be removed for the house/access - are there any protection orders on any of them? any unusual wildlife in your area whose habitat might be disturbed by the building?
(both helped us oppose building of enormous student village extension near us...)