Options Planning Granted

TVPIPE

Our next door neighbour has submitted four planning requests over the last 2 1/2 years for a 2 storey extension. We objected on the grounds that it was too large for the plot and would box our house in and the upstairs windows would look straight into our bedroom and the kitchen downstairs - thus a loss of privacy. We did not object per se to an extension.

three times it was rejected (no changes were made to account for our objections) - and one went to the planning inspectorate on appeal who agreed with our position.

On the fourth occasion it has been granted despite our objections.I queried this and was advised that after our objections the owner had made further submissions including a frosted bedroom window in the extension to account for our privacy.

My issue is
a) what rights of appeal do I have as the neighbour?

As I feel that the planning request is materially the same as before and I was not advised of any changes the owner submitted to the council - surely I should have been able to review and comment further on the proposals?

Can the planning inspectorate get involved?

We feel frustrated as it appears that the council have waved this one through.....

System

i don't understand the problem here, they went for planning and you objected on grounds of privacy, they have addressed the concern by using frosted glass and subsequently got the approval, now you want to object to what exactly?

27col

the_r_sole wrote: »

i don't understand the problem here, they went for planning and you objected on grounds of privacy, they have addressed the concern by using frosted glass and subsequently got the approval, now you want to object to what exactly?

The Op does not have a reason except for a general tendency towards nimbyism.

TVPIPE

27col wrote: »

The Op does not have a reason except for a general tendency towards nimbyism.

Disappointed with the negative response here - as I said we did not object the neighbour extending...it was the design of the extension .
It is very easy for you to make a glib remark - but as I outlined the privacy was one issue, the size of the extension was another - I was not asking opinion on whether you agree with my reasons for exploring appeal options -I was only asking for advice on the options available.

Without appearing rude, please do not comment unless it is constructive. I don't believe I am being unreasonable in requesting this.

System

if you have raised the issue of the extension being too large, then it must have been considered by the planning department and disregarded unfortunatley, you should be able to get a hold of the report of handling for the permission on the local authority website, there will be little you can do about it as clearly the material planning concerns have been addressed.
if you don't approve of the design, unless you are in a conservation area, again there is little you can do, the only real thing you could do is get a copy of the handling report and give it to a planning consultant to see if there are any inconsistencies with the handling of the case, however that would take significant time and cost and probably end up with the same result

Doozergirl

You have no right of appeal. Planning has been approved, that is the end of it for you. I can't possibly see what a Planning consultant would add. We had a case in our Dictrict where planners approved a new development on Green Belt land stating that the community needed it. The community disagreed. It was eventually decided by the Ombudsman that the Council were wrong but the only recourse for that was a £1000 fine. They still get to build 20 houses.

As for commenting again, the last lot would have been alterations to the plans submitted and the planners would have told your neighbour what they would want to see to be able to pass it. You knew there was an application in and the Planners knew you had an objection already. The Planners are capable of doing their job and will assess the size and design of the extension, as well as privacy issues even without another letter from you. They knew your concerns and would have addressed them as much as they could within boundaries. The boundaries are set by them though, not you. They have clear guidelines in place to decide how certain extension impact upon neighbours and the plans finally submitted wouldn't have exceeded them.

The obscured glass etc is really elementary stuff that anyone with a knowledge of planning would expect.

TVPIPE

the_r_sole wrote: »

if you have raised the issue of the extension being too large, then it must have been considered by the planning department and disregarded unfortunatley, you should be able to get a hold of the report of handling for the permission on the local authority website, there will be little you can do about it as clearly the material planning concerns have been addressed.
if you don't approve of the design, unless you are in a conservation area, again there is little you can do, the only real thing you could do is get a copy of the handling report and give it to a planning consultant to see if there are any inconsistencies with the handling of the case, however that would take significant time and cost and probably end up with the same result

Thanks for you reply - I appreciate the time you have taken to provide a constructive response.
As previous, if the owner has satisfied all of the outstanding points then I agree the permission should be granted. Despite the comments in the other post, I am not against people extending their properties, but there has to be consideration on both side.

Cash-Cow_3

There is no right of appeal. You can make a Judicial Review but that's a High Court job. Even then I think you can only challenge whether the decision was made within the correct rules and procedures and not the decision itself.

Frosted glass is an accepted privacy keeper. My neighbours have two frosted windows that look at my house. Just to match them up I've got two that look onto theirs. No issue really. I take it that the extension is now reduced in size so the impact is reduced?