Neighbour applying for planning permission for dormer window

raspberryras

Have just had a letter from the council to inform me that our neighbours are applying for planning permission (we're in an AONB) to put a dormer window in on the roof alongside our roof. This is our dream house and saddled with a huge mortgage, we're never planning to move if we can help it. The house is a semi so we're joined to next door and they already overlook much of our garden which is fair enough as we bought the house after they'd moved in and done an extension and a lot of work. However this dormer will overlook our garden and whilst we get on really well with the neighbours I don't want to be any more overlooked than we currently are. The house has already been done in a much more modern style than ours, with PVC windows in contrast to our more traditional looking house and so the new window will I feel be overbearing when viewed from the back of our garden. It's an awkward situation as we get on well but I'm really not happy about it and would prefer them to either have velux windows or nothing. The house is big as there are only two of them and at some point in the future they are likely to move having done the house and made money on it so that's another factor as we don't know if we'll get along so well with new neighbours. Any suggestions? The architect's letter which I viewed online stated that the window will not 'materially affect' the view into our garden. He hasn't been in our garden so dunno how he reached that conclusion- I walked round today and realised that part of the roof is visible from many new angles.

smifffy1989

I have recently applied for planning permission for an extension. I went round to the neighbours prior to them receiving the letter- If you get on well with them I would have thought they would pay you the same courtesy.

I would go to them with your concerns and see what they say, they may accept your idea of velux windows.

If you are not happy with the response then you are within your rights to object to the planning.

Bantex_2

raspberryras wrote: »

Have just had a letter from the council to inform me that our neighbours are applying for planning permission (we're in an AONB) to put a dormer window in on the roof alongside our roof. This is our dream house and saddled with a huge mortgage, we're never planning to move if we can help it. The house is a semi so we're joined to next door and they already overlook much of our garden which is fair enough as we bought the house after they'd moved in and done an extension and a lot of work. However this dormer will overlook our garden and whilst we get on really well with the neighbours I don't want to be any more overlooked than we currently are. The house has already been done in a much more modern style than ours, with PVC windows in contrast to our more traditional looking house and so the new window will I feel be overbearing when viewed from the back of our garden. It's an awkward situation as we get on well but I'm really not happy about it and would prefer them to either have velux windows or nothing. The house is big as there are only two of them and at some point in the future they are likely to move having done the house and made money on it so that's another factor as we don't know if we'll get along so well with new neighbours. Any suggestions? The architect's letter which I viewed online stated that the window will not 'materially affect' the view into our garden. He hasn't been in our garden so dunno how he reached that conclusion- I walked round today and realised that part of the roof is visible from many new angles.

So you build an extension which the neighbours have to put up with, but object to them putting in a dormer window? Good luck for the future.

Browntoa

if theres similar dormers down the road then you have virtually no chance of stopping them under the current planning rules as may be a permitted development

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/responsibilities/planningpermission/permitted

raspberryras

Bantex- no I haven't done an extension- the neighbours have. To which I raised no objection. I don't think it's at all unreasonable to object to a PVC window which will overlook most of my garden and be clashing in character and style to my house. I wouldn't have moved to a rural undeveloped area if I'd wanted to be surrounded by windows. There are fields to the rear so we aren't overlooked there and nobody else has dormers further along the row. Thanks for the helpful replies.

TonyMMM

The best option would be to talk to the neighbours and come up with a compromise solution you can both live with.

If that isn't possible then you need to put together an objection letter to the planning dept. - but you have to be careful and take any emotion out of it and concentrate on issues which are relevant to planning decision making.

If you don't know what they are, read up on the subject carefully by looking at the policy documents on the council planning website before writing the objection, and set out your objections point by point relating each back to the particular planning policy you think is being breached.

raspberryras

Thanks, not having much luck finding the policies. So much council bureaucracy to wade through, it's an AONB but they already have PVC windows and have done the house in a modern style so that probably doesn't count as a consideration as it's already been allowed with other windows.

Doozergirl

Are there currently other windows overlooking your garden?

I feel, in this situation that you should speak to the planning officer before considering raising any objection. You can ask them if it affects the amenity of your property. Whether or not you complain on writing will actually have no bearing on the officer's decision. If the officer cannot fond a material reason why ot should not be allowed then it will be passed whether you like it or not.

There may be a reason why they can't build it, again, whether you voice in writing will have no bearing.

Ultimately, you cannot control the outcome so there is little point putting concerns on paper and jeopardising a relationship when the decision is made on planning legislation.

People are allowed to build in AONB, things that would be permitted development in other areas (which many dormers would be) are the sort of thing that would probably pass, but are just double checked. If their house has PVC and that is already allowed, you don't even have a right to an opinion on that, I'm afraid. If you want to live in a place where no one builds then you have to live in green belt away from neighbours.

I_have_spoken

Some folks down the road from me were obliged to move the window to the inner side of their dormer due to objections from the neighbours whose gardens would have been 100% overlooked as the houses are on a 'loop' road.

Looks a bit odd with the blank wall, but better than being stared at I guess.

Gloomendoom

It really does depend on the individual planning department. A couple of years ago a couple of houses were built on a plot next to me and, despite my objections, my kitchen and entire garden are now overlooked by several windows from both properties. It was completely private before.

However, life's too short to fret. I barely give it a thought now.