Neighbours planning an extension

BlueC

yakyak wrote: »

Not that I would really want to, but if I had a reason to also go for a similar type extension years in the future, the currently semi detached houses would be more like quasi semis. (I presume I would be turned down on this basis)

Not necessarily. In our locality (Merseyside) it is not unusual for semis to be extended next to one another so they become almost terraced (link semis may be the correct term?). So, here at least, it doesn't appear that one application would be turned down just because the neighbour already did it.

The advice to visit/call the local planning office was good advice.

Mojisola

yakyak wrote: »

I'll try and draw a diagram to explain it some more. The party wall is in the middle of two driveways. Their current garage is attached to the house, but attached to the rear send of the house. The plan is to demolish the garage, rebuild it further forward and out some - using the wall that divides the driveways as the side of their proposed extension.

It sounds as if you are using the term "party wall" to describe a boundary feature. The Party Wall law applies to walls that are part of the structure of both houses. I don't think - and you'd need to check this - that it would apply if the neighbours built their extension but it would if you put up an extension and wanted to make use of their wall.

Anacrusis

It sounds like your neighbours want to suss out whether you'd mind or have any worries about what they're considering - as you do have worries, I would tell them. Many years ago when I was about ten my next door neighbours submitted a planning apllication that would have cut light out of our garden. My parents objected (due to the loss of light) so they worked out something else that didn't affect us and went ahead with that instead.

cddc

They will need planning permission. If they did not they would not even be talking to you about it. The rules are that if you are planning an extension within 1m of a boundary or a party wall, no matter the size, you need permission. They are just sussing out as to whether you will object or not. They probably have not even had the drawings done yet. They will possibly have been advised that if you object when the planning goes in, it is unlikely to go through.

Ask them to show you the plans when they have them. Only then will you fully be able to see if you have anything to worry about.

We have just had planning accepted for a similar extension and we consulted with our neighbor throughout the proccess to ensure that they were happy with what we were doing.

It sounds to me as if they are at an early stage.

ceridwen

Good luck with this.

Don't forget that even if you were happy per se with the proposed extension - anyone that was looking to buy your house in future might not be (ask me how I know.....:cool:).

I wish previous owners of this house had protested against the next door neighbours proposed extension - because it may not have bothered them, but it certainly DOES bother me.

I have major loss of light because of it and my garden is less usable than it should be and there are constant gripes from the neighbour about how I use my garden wall (because its also their house wall). If it had remained just a joint garden wall - then life would be a lot easier for me.

Bear in mind that if you go from being able to see light (and any views you have) to just seeing Wall you are likely to feel really badly hemmed-in by it and come to resent it with a passion.

There is also the point about if their house was also your garden wall - then who would maintain it? They might well let the maintenance of that wall deteriorate on the one hand or get antsy if you try and do anything to improve the look of your garden wall (ie because of it also being their house wall) on the other hand.

If you have any sense - you'll fight this tooth and nail and try and stop them building ANY extension at all if its possible. At the least - do not allow them to use the joint garden wall as a house wall for themselves. You would be making a rod for your own back if you let them do that.

If they are that desperate for more space - then let them move.

They knew the size of the house when they bought it - so why quibble about it and try to extend it now? The only extensions that won't inconvenience at least one neighbour for the worse are those involving just putting up a window (eg Velux or not too dissimilar type) in the roof. Anything else WILL undoubtedly impact for the worse on a neighbour.

System

There speaks somebody who isn't really bitter!

yakyak

edited....

Enterprise_1701C

Just one other question - is it DEFINITELY a jointly owned wall? Just that down our way any dividing wall/fence is owned by one of the houseowners. We had a neighbour asking if we minded them changing "our" fence (meaning theirs and ours) to a 6ft one, we had battled for years with a 6ft fence constantly being blown down and replaced it with a 4ft one. We pointed this out and also stated that the fence actually belonged to us (in the deeds) - they had assumed it was jointly owned because it was between two gardens.

Just asking because other people might assume things are jointly owned because they are between two gardens.

System

If something is being built on or close to the boundary line then the Party Wall applies regardless of the ownership of any boundary feature.

Don't forget that he will need to set his building slightly back from the boundary to prevent his soffits etc encroaching on to your side.

System

it's not uncommon for a neighbour to say they have no objections to a proposed extension then object to it when it goes in to the planning department, seen it far too many times!!
just tell them your concerns and if they are still at the early stages they will get it designed accordingly as they wont want to be wasting money on an application that will get rejected - right to light can be very difficult to prove since the rooms as kitchen, bathroom and hall way, all non-habitable spaces which have less privacy/light issues than say a living room or bedroom...
(also i wouldn't let one bitter persons experience cause a rift between you and your neighbours!)