Neighbours extension - will it affect my house price?

BobRobUK

I currently live in a semi detatched house. My neighbour, attached, is considering building a full width and height extension. Not an issue normally but their neighbour, also living in a semi, wants to build the same extension and share the wall.
So as you can see my house then becomes a terraced property, and also the other property. Would this as I believe reduce the price of my house, if so by how much? Also do you think that they would realistically get planning permission for this even if I didn't put in an objection?, something I wouldn't want to do as we are the greatest of friends.
They have no option other than to share the wall as leaving a service gap between them would make the extension too small.
Anybody experienced this? A professional opinion would be most helpful.

Thanks in advance.

MJMum

It may be turned down anyway, on the basis of the terracing effect. (And this is a basis that you could object on, if you did want to object). Although I have seen two semi's in my mother-in-law's street do just this development, so clearly it CAN get through planning, if appropriate.

jackieb

How do they plan to get their bins out? Would they be wanting access through your back garden?

nic_santorini

I know the persons concerned would have to get what they call a 'party wall agreement' and all parties with walls concerned have to agree - i would argue that this includes you really - as you bought a semi not a terrace. Of course semi detached houses fetch more money - the saving grace is that you will be an 'end of terrace' and not mid-terraced like your neighbour. I would seriously get professional advice and hopefully someone on MSE can help, but it would be wise to go to any meetings and put in a possible objection.

anotherbigspender

If you are going to object to the planning application (and IMO its worth a punt, even if its just so you know you've done what you can) don't bother with the old 'it will devalue my property' line. The Council aren't interested in protecting your, or anyone elses, property value.

I would stick to issues of design and the character of the area (I assume mainly semi-detached).

Which local authority are you in?

Oh and BTW ... ignore the bit about the party wall agreement in the post above. It is relevant to the two residents who would share a wall, but it will not involve you.

lianne1978

Here is a brief example of how a Council determines a planning application.

What can be taken into account

By law the council can take account only of concerns which are recognised as material considerations.

Material considerations

- The design of a development. The design should be high quality and in keeping with the original property and street scene.

- The effect on historic buildings, conservation areas and protected trees.

- The potential effect on homes nearby, including loss of light, loss of outlook, closeness, loss of privacy and noise disturbance.

- Any effect on vehicle, pedestrian or cycle safety.

These are not the only material considerations but the list shows the types of things that are taken into account.

Some examples of matters that cannot be taken into account


- The effect on the value of a property - A development may affect the value of a house or land but this is not a planning matter. Planning decisions cannot take this into account and there is no system for compensation.

- Loss of view - Although a Council considers how close a new building would be to a window or garden, loss of view is not a planning matter.

- Competition - The planning system cannot be used to protect the income of a business or to promote one business over another.

- Work that crosses the boundary between properties - People applying for planning permission must give notice to the owner of any land their work will go on to. However, a council can give planning permission for a development that is partly or totally on their land. This includes foundations, guttering, eaves of a roof or other building work crossing over a boundary. The planning permission does not give the applicant the right to carry out the development, as he or she will need their neighbour's permission. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 also needs to be considered in such matters.

- Construction details - These matters are dealt with under the building regulations.

- Disturbance from construction work - Construction work sometimes causes noise, dust and disturbance, particularly if it is close to people’s homes. A council cannot take such disturbance into account when considering planning applications.

anotherbigspender

This is a very good summary

BobRobUK

Well thanks for this great advice.
It seems that my objection would mean nothing except a waste of my time.
At the end of it my modest semi becomes a terrace and with it a chunk of its value gone.
One good thing might come out of this, I may get a reduction in my coucil tax bill!

irnbru_2

BobRobUK wrote:

It seems that my objection would mean nothing except a waste of my time.

I don't see why:

lianne1978 wrote:

The design of a development. The design should be high quality and in keeping with the original property and street scene.

Conversion from semi to terraced housing is hardly in keeping with original property.

seven-day-weekend

The application may well be refused whether or not you object.

When I worked in planning, we turned down applications like this that created a 'terracing effect'.

Idiophreak

Does the "loss of light" thing apply too, or won't it make much difference?