Joint Planning Permission: “Grampian” planning condition

roses

Hi, my neighbour and I have both put in a joint planning application to build a kitchen extension with a 4m tall party wall. She wants to build asap and I will build when I have the money in 12-18 months time. The council sent an email today:

[FONT=&quot][As you may be aware, a separate planning application for a similar proposal to yours has been submitted concurrently for the neighbouring property. In isolation it is the view of Officers that each proposal would have the potential to have an adverse impact on the adjacent property. However, if both extensions were to be constructed then it is likely that they would adequately mitigate the potential harm. As such, Officers would only be able to recommend the applications for approval if both applicants accept that each permission would be subject to a “Grampian” planning condition. The recommended condition would read as such:-[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The extension hereby permitted shall not be constructed beyond a height of 2m above ground level until all foundations have been completed for the single-storey side extension to the neighbouring property.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Reason: To ensure that there is a reasonable prospect of both developments being completed in the interests of residential amenity.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]In order to impose a Grampian condition, legal precedence sets out that Officers would need to be satisfied that there is a reasonable prospect that the “enabling” works being undertaken within the life-time of the permission (within 3 years of granting). As such, I would appreciate it if you could confirm whether your client is agreeable to the imposition of the recommended condition and, if they are, that it is their intention to complete the foundations of the extension within the life-time of the planning permission, if it is forthcoming.[/FONT]]

Obviously it makes no sense for my neighbour to build a 2m high party wall as it's not tall enough to stand up inside and it's not what either of us want, however what is causing the problem is us building at different times.

If I've understood the email correctly, if I lay my foundations now then she can go ahead and build a 4m tall wall.

If I were to lay any foundations now, is it possible to do this without impacting my existing house?

MX5huggy

You should be fine to put your foundations in now, in fact should be cheaper as you can use the same digger as the neighbour, unless you where planing to use your own spade.