extension over 50% !!!

peter999

pingua wrote: »

Our nice neighbours have shown us plans to build an extension - huge.
Anyone any ideas?????? Its huge - we have only just moved in!!!!!!

Have plans been submitted to council ??
Have you been consulted as neighbour ??

Have neighbours deliberately submitted plans when old owners moving out & you moving in ??

peter999

peter999

Doozergirl wrote: »

I'm building a huge extension onto a house right now and I'd say there has been minimal impact to next door.

Have they used an architect for these plans? If they have then the architect should have addressed any issues (overlooking/boundary etc) that might affect you, but once they've submitted plans, go and have a look at them and ask a planning officer to run through anything that might affect you and see whether there would be any grounds for you to object. If there aren't, don't get off on the wrong foot by just putting in objection for the sake of it!

Forget about "don't get off wrong foot".
Your neighbours could be trying it on.

Architects do what they're told by who's paying them & do NOT have your interests at heart.

peter999

jyonda

Spendless wrote: »

The complete cynic in me wonders if this is why the previous owners of your house were selling.

The cynic in me wonders if they think the fact they've discussed their plans with you means they can go to the council and say 'yeah the neighbours are fine with it'. Not that the planning officer should take their word for it mind you.
If their extension goes ahead and in any way breaks the planning rules they can be ordered to take it down again at their expense. So I would imagine you would be doing them a favour by pointing out the acceptable boundries.

pingua

Do you think we should let them know we will be putting in an objection??
They did come round and tell us what they were planning.
The house had been empty and on the market for quite a while - divorce. So not sure why they did not do it before we moved whilst it was empty.

Alfrescodave

You need to definitely find out whether or not plans have been submitted for approval. Plans mean nothing until they are formally approved, If approval has not yet been granted then I would tell your neighbours that you will be objecting - are there other neighbours that you could sound out as to what they think. Changing plans before submitting rather than changing after having them rejected is a less expensive option

seven-day-weekend

peter999 wrote: »

Have plans been submitted to council ??
Have you been consulted as neighbour ??

Have neighbours deliberately submitted plans when old owners moving out & you moving in ??

peter999

Even if they have, there will still be a letter sent to the address when a formal application has beeen submitted. Probably addressed to The Occupier.

seven-day-weekend

For an extension of this size, they will need Planning Permission. As an adjoining landowner, you will be formally consulted on this. When you write your objection letter state clearly the reasons you are objecting ('overdevelopment of site' and 'overlooking' are two good ones - the perceived effect on value to your house and the disturbance created by building cannot be taken into consideration).

It will not be automatically refused because you object, but all objections will be taken into consideration at the decision stage.

Anyone can object to a Planning Application, not just those who have been consulted.

Anything you write will be available to any other member of the public.

Having worked in Planning for about nine years, it does sound to me like this is overdevelopment, but it is difficult to say without seeing plans.

Good luck!

Doozergirl

peter999 wrote: »

Forget about "don't get off wrong foot".
Your neighbours could be trying it on.

Architects do what they're told by who's paying them & do NOT have your interests at heart.

peter999

I like the way you quote me as if because I am building an extension, that I'm giving the wrong advice.

An architect gets paid more to get something through planning than they do to "do as they are told" by people with no idea of planning policy. The planning officers will look at the plans, make a site visit and will spot a contravention (or "someone trying it on") a mile off. That's exactly what they get paid for and the application will get thrown out if they find something.

I have recommended that OP to go to the planning office, ask to look through the plans and make a list, with a planning officer, of reasonable objections to submit so that their objections read clearly and not like the rantings of a NIMBY.

If there aren't any contraventions, then objecting is entirely pointless and will simply annoy the neighbours. I've not for a second suggested that the OP do nothing.

I think the extension sounds like overdevelopment too and there might be an issue of blocking light to the living room.

pingua

Thanks everyone. We will be making a trip down to talk to who ever it is dealing with the case.
I really hope they do listen.

marybishop

Pretty sure you will find that doubling the size of the house (if as you say it is increasing by 50%) will not be looked upon favourably by the planners although percentages do vary from council to council and the planning officer will take into account valid concerns.