Advice needed about Planning application

rainbow21

Hiya

I hope I'm posting this in the right place.

Yesterday I got a letter from my local council informing me that my next door neighbour has submitted a planning application to build a new house that is attached to his house. We live in semis so building a new house on the end will turn my house into an end terrace and thus affecting the value of it.

I am really stressed out. It's my first house and I've only lived here a year so have no experience of planning disputes like this. The same man put in plans to build a detached house in his garden last month, and I objected via the council website on the grounds that a new house would be out of character with the area. The application was refused but I think other people objected as well as I felt my comments on their own before were too weak for it to be refused on the basis of them alone.

However I wish I'd never objected to the previous plan as this is so much worse. I just don't know what to do. I'm going to contact the planning department tomorrow and just wondered if any one on here had had similar issues and how you went about resolving them.

Is it worth contacting the other people on my street? There are no other new build houses or terraced houses in the surrounding area so this property will spoil the character. I'm most worried about the effect on my own property which I know sounds selfish but I feel so angry about it.

There is no chance of talking to my neighbour as he doesn't live in the property. A tenant was in until a few months ago and the house has been empty since. Any advice much appreciated as I'm so stressed out about it.

Doozergirl

The 'terracing effect' is an issue and I think the application would probably be turned down, especially if there are no other terraces in the street.

If you talk to a planning officer and have a look at the plans together with them, you can find out exactly what they think and you may find what they say reassuring. They may also help you word your objection so that you stick the points which are valid and keep it succinct.

harryhound

I don't think anyone can begin to answer this, without more information.

If your neighbour has the corner plot and an acre of garden, then building an extra home seems entirely sensible

Harry

Pluto_Bear

Very similar thing happened to us. I'm afraid there is no good news. Carefully study your local authority's planning rules and object on any specific grounds you can, but in the end you're probably stuffed. Most local authorities grant permission for any old tat knowing full well that an appeal can be lodged against refusal but NOT against granting permission - and some grounds are totally irrelevant as far as they are concerned (devaluation of neighbouring properties being one of them). You can always sue, they say, ha!

zfrl

At least if you object it has to go to the full planning committee & will be looked at properly. If no one objects planning applications can get by so easily.

Nicki

Aren't there rules about how close to your curtilege he can build? I'm not a planning specialist - have never even applied for PP or objected to someone elses, but I'm pretty sure that you can't build a new property which touches or is only a few cms away from a neighbours house over their opposition. Hopefully someone a bit more knowledgeable will come along shortly