Neighbour unhappy about my objection to their planning application - poss aggression

nonoz

My neighbour has put in a planning application for a large change to her home (that she bought 1 month ago). I have put in an objection against the application (other neighbours will be too). This evening whilst bathing my children the applicant came round to my house and my sister who does not live with me answered the door. She was very aggressive towards my sister saying that she knows i have objected and that she will be back round tomorrow to speak to me.

I do not really know this new neighbour as although she bought the property a month ago has not yet moved in nor introduced herself to myself or any of the other neighbours.

My concern is that she is coming round tomorrow and may well be aggressive in tone. What should i do? Try and record the conversation on my phone and if she is not very nice report it to the council or to the police?

Everyone has their right to object, thats why the council has written to us about the proposed plans. I dont think that she should be confronting the neighbours about it though. The councils website shows all objections to the plans and who has objected.

Thank you in advance for any advice.

chappers

If she gets aggressive just close the door on her and if she persists, call the police.
Your objections won't necessarily prevent her obtaining permission, they would have to be valid under the constraints of the planning regs, though mass objection could have an effect.

pendragon_arther

In the long term it would be better to try and resolve this if at all possible because when you come to sell your house you will have to state legally any disputes with neighbours even if she is an !!!!!!!.

Kiran

What was your objection based on? When she come round be polite and don't get drawn into an argument. Tell her that if she had shown you plans prior to submitting a planning app you would have gladly discussed them with her but that her extennsion would cause you issues because of x, y and z.

If she got the objection yesterday she probably would have been a bit put out and may well have calmed down by the time she gets to speak to you. Don't go waving a phone about showing the conversation is being recorded but if you are concerned for your safety etc. then go for it, this again is all the more reason to be polite and factual regardless of what is said. As someone else has posted, if she becomes aggressive then you simply say you are not prepared to continue the conversation in this manner and at this time. Thank her for coming round and close the door.

DRP

If possible, take the initiative and knock on her door... be very pleasant, come with a list of your concerns that you 'would have preferred to discuss prior to the application'.

I can't reallyunderstand why someone would put the wheels in motion for this sort of major project without first speaking to the immediate neighbours... not only is it a bit rude, it leads to all sorts of problems that could have been easily averted with a little consideration (discussion, tea & cake) .

System

DRP wrote: »

I can't reallyunderstand why someone would put the wheels in motion for this sort of major project without first speaking to the immediate neighbours... not only is it a bit rude, it leads to all sorts of problems that could have been easily averted with a little consideration (discussion, tea & cake) .

to counter that, you do get some neighbours who just don't want anything to change and will object to absolutely anything, and then you waste weeks trying to appease them, fully knowing they are going to lodge a formal objection to your plans - generally neighbours objections are not based on sound planning considerations and easily dismissed, sometimes talking to them about your plans causes more hassle than it's worth.
If you are new to an area it's unlikely you have any connection with the neighbours and they will be resistant to someone coming in and changing things (happens all over the place) as long as the proposal falls within design guidance there is nothing to really discuss

Davesnave

pendragon_arther wrote: »

In the long term it would be better to try and resolve this if at all possible because when you come to sell your house you will have to state legally any disputes with neighbours even if she is an !!!!!!!.

I'm not sure that this is true.

This is not a dispute at all yet. The OP has just made comments on a planning proposal, which she's entitled to do without fear of having to declare anything when selling.

It would be a sad world where people did not make such representations, because they feared having to declare them at some future point.

Provided the OP keeps her cool and is pleasant, it should not become anything worthy of declaring at any time.

However, I'd add that I have a friend who lost their cool recently in a situation such as this, and they're currently waiting to see if charges will be brought.....so the need for care here cannot be emphasised too strongly.

I would want someone else present at any meeting with this person and a discreet recording would be a good idea.

phoenix_w

Davesnave wrote: »

I would want someone else present at any meeting with this person and a discreet recording would be a good idea.

When I had a neighbour dispute I thankfully had a small digital dictaphone to hand. We kept it by the front door and switched it on every time the neighbour came around or we went outside to work (since him and his wife would come outside and stalk us every time we cut the grass or put the washing out to dry).

The chap couldn't "lie straight in bed" as they say, so on one of his stalking occasions where he started denying he'd ever said X, Y and Z, I offered to send him a copy of the conversation where he did say those things. The look of dread on his face and the fact that he shut up instantly made me feel awesome.

My biggest tip for a dispute is to be beyond reproach. Be polite and factual in all of your dealings (don't make things up or embellish) and do everything the correct way. Don't be tempted to get drawn into arguments or activities which will draw ill will.

Ant555

My biggest tip for a dispute is to be beyond reproach.

In a previous house a neighbour put in a planning application - I didn't necessarily 'object' as I knew she would get it passed in some form and I just had to put up with it but I did voice concerns on the online council system over a window location and whether it would be opaque.
Needless to say she didn't speak to me again but whenever I saw her I always let on with a 'hi' or 'hello' and I think that really grated on her as she was trying very hard to ignore me every time.

She got her building (which was going to happen anyway) and to my mind I came out of it better and with less ongoing stress and bother.

So, accept if you can that there probably will be a building of some sort and as already suggested, be factual and honest.

Just keep in the back of your mind that some people can lie to your face in the hope of placating you long enough for something to be built/changed/removed and by then itrs too late.


Not quite in the same league but here is a story where the local people were told an application was for a 'high quality store' and that it was all hush hush - the plans showed anonymous signage and people hinted using the words 'Waitrose' and 'Booths'
Everyone was happy until it transpires the store is a Netto then the village is up in arms.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2998448/Wealthy-villagers-thought-getting-Waitrose-disappointed-discover-new-upmarket-store-branch-discount-chain-NETTO.html

moneyistooshorttomention

The body language a lying neighbour puts on when told "You said x on the following date" and they wish to deny it later is that, when they are being reminded of what they said = they stand facing you full-on and open their eyes very wide.

Ask me how I know. But...yep...some neighbours do indeed lie and both my bad neighbours have duly stood there right in front of me and denied they said something on more than one occasion.

So - I'd go along with the suggestion of recording any conversation and then its impossible for them to lie and they probably won't try that again...

MisterBaxter

If the neighbour returns I would politely tell them that there is no point in entering into discussion or debate as you have already made your objections as you are entitled to under planning laws.

If they become agressive (verbally) you should firmly but politely ask them to leave , if they refuse or matters escalate then it's a call to the police.

As they didn't have the courtesy to discuss the application with you before submitting it I don't think it's reasonable for them to expect you to discuss your concerns with them before submitting your objection, these things cut both ways.