neighbour stopping extension

oscarpops

Hiya im lookin for some advice please? Ive put in planning for a side extension and single rear. My neighbour has always said they would be fine with it. We went over the plans with them etc. Now they have asked for 10k then 5k not to object to the council! We were shocked at this! We dont even have all of the money to complete the extension let alone pay them 5k. My question is if they object we will not get permission? Also in my case we would need to go on there drive and part of the garden to do our extension so im guessing if they say no then its just tough to us. I cannot believe people these days we are a young family and need the extra bedroom, they are an older couple whos kids have home etc, we dont have alot money wise and they must be in a better position than us. Any advice on this matter would be really appreciated
Thankyou

ellie27

So it sounds like they will not allow access to do the extension.

If I didnt want next door neighbour doing an extension then I would object too and wouldnt let access.

I dont have any advice at all, I am sorry but remember its not all about you, they live there too. They obviously feel they would be a bit overlooked/enclosed by the extension. Put yourself in their position if you were an older happily retired couple.....would you want a big extension built next door - perhaps not - as bigger houses may be associated with even more noise/kids/parties....


I am not saying you are doing anything wrong, but I do hope it all works out for you.

WeAreGhosts

If they refuse to let you have access to build then you would need a court order (which may or may not be granted).

Please don't assume that because people are older they are in a "better position".

mrginge

Damn those older people who aren't prepared to be walked all over.

Auntie-Dolly

They can only object to your extension with valid planning reasons, not that they don't want it there. The fact that they wont object if you pay them is shocking. It makes things smoother if both parties get along, but they cant stop it happening on a whim.

anselld

Planners will look at the planning considerations and ignore the emotional input from the neighbours.
Don't pay them anything, just proceed.
There must be ways and means to build the proposed extension without trespassing on their land.

PixelPound

The Council won't simply refuse because of an objection. What they do is look at your plan and at the objection and see if there grounds to block it. So does your extension have a window overlooking their garden (reduces their privacy) or is so big it casts a shadow? That you have said you will need access to their land during building kind of says its very close and why they are objecting

PixelPound

Don't pay them, and submit it, if it gets refused you can always see if you can have your plan amended to address the concerns and resubmit.

Hedgehog99

You could save & move to a larger property. If I was retired, I wouldn't want the young family next door doing an extension either. I know someone who regrets allowing their neighbour an extension.

Doozergirl

Hedgehog99 wrote: »

You could save & move to a larger property. If I was retired, I wouldn't want the young family next door doing an extension either. I know someone who regrets allowing their neighbour an extension.

People don't "allow" their neighbours extensions. There is planning legislation. If the proposed extension meets the criteria, it passes.

The neighbours have little to no influence. Even if they rallied troops and somehow got a planning committee to turn down a feasible proposition, it would be approved at appeal. Extensions would rarely go to committee anyway, it's almost always done under delegated powers.

I have no sympathy for these poor old people who think they can bribe their neighbours! How very distasteful.

slopemaster

Doozergirl wrote: »

I have no sympathy for these poor old people who think they can bribe their neighbours! How very distasteful.

Extort bribes from their neighbours.
But I agree.