Proposed Extension next door - help please?

Leven

Hello, I am hoping someone with experience can advise and help with the following?...

The owners of the property next door to my son's house have applied for planning permission for a large extension to the side. My son is planning to raise an objection as the extension is to the detriment of his property, mainly due to its size and proximity.

The houses are close together and set at an angle to each other meaning that the projectory of the planned extension to next door is such that it will actually end directly against the boundary between the properties. The extension is to the upper floor, above and extending beyond an existing attached garage, and being held up at the rear by pillars going up from ground level.

The result will be aesthetically detrimental to my son's property, as well as causing a decrease in the amount of light to the kitchen, back garden and patio and making the whole garden (which is small) look and feel oppressive and closed in.

Also, can anyone please advise whether permission has to be sought to raise scaffolding in my son's garden (which they will need to do) and if so, does my son have to grant this permission?

Strapped

If it's right up to (ie on) the boundary then look at party wall regs.

Look at planning legislation to make sure you use the right terminology to object. For example, say "will lead to a loss of light, contrary to such-and-such section of such-and-such planning legislation", etc. You can certainly argue that it will be over-bearing and oppressive, to the detriment of your son's quality of life (against planning guidelines).

Mallotum_X

Also do consider if he intends to stay living there. Raising objections to your next door neighbours planned extension is not going to help neighbourly relations.

Can he not discuss his concerns with them and see if a suitable compromise can be reached?

princeofpounds

You will waste your time if you complain about anything which does not specifically relate to planning policy.

It often helps if you use the terms in that policy - for example 'unacceptable massing' rather than 'feels oppressive' or 'not in keeping with surrounding properties' rather than 'aesthetically detrimental'... or what ever is relevant to your area. This means the planning officer has to do very little work to imagine what might force changes to the design or an outright refusal. They will likely also have to directly refer to such issues in any decision or recommendation to the council planning committee.

Scaffolding, building up to the boundary and so on is mostly handled outside of planning, via party wall procedures etc.

tim123456789

Mallotum_X wrote: »

Also do consider if he intends to stay living there. Raising objections to your next door neighbours planned extension is not going to help neighbourly relations.

Tis unfortunately, what you have to do.

Sisiter lives on an estate of (detached) bungalows. One of owners wanted to build a second storey and turn theirs into a house.

most of the street complained - didn't get permission.

rpc

Separate the two issues.

The planning permission has to be decided on planning ground and the mechanics of building the structure don't come into this.

Before the neighbour takes spade to soil or lays a single brick, the Party Wall Act must be complied with. Basically, you get to have a specialist surveyor look after your interests and the other party foots the bill. Beware that, when this stage arrives, you may well be given a letter detailing the build and a request for you to sign it to give permission. Don't do this!

If they have to come onto your land, you need to give permission unless they have a right of way or easement.

Has your son spoken to the neighbours? Did the neighbours approach your son? This sort of thing can wreck relationships.

tim123456789

princeofpounds wrote: »

You will waste your time if you complain about anything which does not specifically relate to planning policy.

A large two storey extension right up to the property boundary is normally easily against planning policy.

Either the property has a large rear garden, in which case the planners will expect the owner to build in a way that doesn't encroach onto their neighbours in this way.

or it has a small garden, in which case the size of the extension is likely to be refused on the grounds of it being an over-development of the plot

YMMV

michaels

IN our LA you can not build above single storey level within 1m of the lateral boundary to maintain 'separation' between properties.

Right-to-light may also apply but is very complicated to calculate and thus expensive to defend. however the LA applies a '45 degree' rule as a proxy fo this, again no 2 storey development is permitted that impinges on a line at 45 degrees from the window of a 'living' room (ie kitchen, lounge, bedroom) but not bathroom. finally locally the local councillors get involved in all planning disputes as an 'honest broker' and will advice on the local rules and procedures.

Edit: however in some circumstances allowing a development that sets a precident may add value to your property if it could also be develped in a similar fashion

pmlindyloo

Your son should receive a letter about the proposed extension explaining how to object and on what grounds objections can be made.

He might like to google his local council + 'planning application process' and see if there is any information.

here is an example:

http://www.eden.gov.uk/planning-and-development/planning/applying-for-planning-permission/planning-application-process/