How do I stop my neighbour from building double storey extension???

mysty60

Dear All,

Thank you for all your help and advise in the past. I need some more. I have recently (1 month) moved into my new house. It is a semi detached house in Manchester.

My neighbour has applied to build a double storey extension to the side and back of the house. My neighbours house is not attached to my house and the distance between the side of the two houses is approx 2.5metres. I believe that the extension to the side will restrict access for emergency services in case of a fire, as there would not be sufficient space for them to take care of the fire. In addition to this I have two windows facing the side of my neighbours house, where he intends to extend to a double storey, am sure that would block any sunlight to my house.


What is the procedure for granting planning permission?


This is my first house and I have no idea what I am entitled to, what my rights are and what the perquisites are for granting planning permission. I would be very grateful if you could suggest any sources of information that would help me.

Also for a semi detached house, is he allowed to build over the entire space between the two houses?? If he does that and I do the same, that would join up four houses like a terrace, surely that cant be right??

I want to stop him to building this monstrous double storey, can anyone help me??

Thanks in advance for all your help.

D_e_n_i_s_e

you need to get in touch with your council and voice your objections in writing to them.

seven-day-weekend

Right, you need to object on purely planning grounds. Things like house values and views are not planning grounds and cannot be taken into consideration.

What are the windows on the side of your house? If they are for example to a bathroom and landing then the loss of sunlight will probably not be deemed to be important. Only habitable rooms such as a bedroom or living room will normally be taken into consideration.

The ground that you are most likely to have success with is the 'terracing' effect which most Local Planning Authorities will not allow. This is the best ground to object on from the information you have given.

Please bear in mind that the application will not be refused purely because you have objected; however your objection will be considered seriously in the light of planning legislation.

'Terracing effect' - that's the one to go for.

Good luck!

seven-day-weekend

Just read your post again and realised that he is not in fact creating a terracing effect as there will still be space between your houses.

OK - have you looked at the plans? Is the extension in keeping with the style of the house/neighbourhood? Will there still be adequate garden? Will a major room in your house be overlooked?

He is allowed to build right up to the boundary and in fact could probably build a single storey extension without planning permission if there are no other extensions to the house.

I think probably your best bet is to object on the grounds of 'overlooking' - not necessarily into your side windows but into other rooms and/or your garden.

Hope this helps.

soappie

In my experience, I'm afraid I have bad news for you. The extension is more than likely to be approved.

If it was a matter of knocking the existing house down and building a block of flats, or severing part of the garden and building a completely new dwelling - you are more likely to succeed.

That said, still write your objections on purely planning grounds but add a paragraph saying that if the Council is minded to grant the planning application you ask that they add conditions to that permission such as no windows facing your property/back garden. Obscured glass in those windows which may overlook etc. etc. Also play up the emergency access stuff. You never know, it might just work.

Good luck

S

shelly

You, along with any other neighbours this could affect, will be informed of your neighbours plans when planning gets put in for. Thats the point in time you put across any objections you have.
If any other neighbours in the street have had permission granted for a double storey extension already, he stands a good chance of having permission granted too.

knowledgeman

Im not sure if they would but contact your local fire station and ask to speak to the prevention people - the ones who do the checks and that and ask their opinion on the safety access and whether they would go on record saying it was potentially dangerous to access

If they say no their are plenty of independent firms who im sure would write what you want for a fee :rolleyes:

I cant see it being ok'd with formal documents highlighting an issue such as that as then if it did happen you'd have a claim against them I reckon or in the very least make them look stupid

Also look at concerns such as plumbing/drains over capacity etc

Basically every logical planning issue you can and back it up with documents were you can

littlesos

knowledgeman wrote: »

Im not sure if they would but contact your local fire station and ask to speak to the prevention people - the ones who do the checks and that and ask their opinion on the safety access and whether they would go on record saying it was potentially dangerous to access

If they say no their are plenty of independent firms who im sure would write what you want for a fee :rolleyes:

I cant see it being ok'd with formal documents highlighting an issue such as that as then if it did happen you'd have a claim against them I reckon or in the very least make them look stupid

Also look at concerns such as plumbing/drains over capacity etc

Basically every logical planning issue you can and back it up with documents were you can

I can't see how fire access would be a problem. There will still be a gap between the two sets of semis, and the fire brigade manage quite well with terraced houses/ blocks of flats.

I don't think there is much you can do, perhaps talk to your new neighbour and ask them about their plans, rather just putting an objection in straight away.

mysty60

Thanks guys, there are some good suggestions, which I will follow up. I will need to have a look at the plans first and then see what is actually going on.

In there no documents with a list of the grounds on which I can object??

knowledgeman

littlesos wrote: »

I can't see how fire access would be a problem. There will still be a gap between the two sets of semis, and the fire brigade manage quite well with terraced houses/ blocks of flats.

I don't think there is much you can do, perhaps talk to your new neighbour and ask them about their plans, rather just putting an objection in straight away.

You are right, it was just a suggestion as the OP mentioned it but unless they plan to close off your street to vehicles you dont have much hope on that aspect id imagine.

You can object normally on

1) Local development plans being against it
2)Appearence (design, materials etc)
3)Traffic, Parking or Access
4) Residential issues (i.e noise, overcrowding, over capacity of utilities )
5)Character of area
6)Listed/conservation area

You cant object on

1)Property devaluation
2)Loss of view
3) future problems *i.e change of use
4)construction hours/damage/noise
5)Competition/business issues
6)Increased fire hazard as a result
7)Contended legal rights to land
8) failure to notify
9)covenants attached to land


Generally speaking its very hard to stop a private development as most of these issues allowed are not associate with your traditional dwellings unless its mansions etc

You also have no right of appeal should it be allowed

Im afraid your best approach would be to ask your neighbours for plans and approach any issues you see informally and see if they will possibly ammend them, if you go straight to objection stage it will cause a rift most likely and you will probbaly lose so my best advice to prevent it causing you issues is to speak to them and negotiate

Bogof_Babe

When our next door neighbours applied for planning permission for a second storey over their garage, we did not raise a formal objection because we wanted to stay on good terms with them. However the planning office insisted on modifications to the angle of the roof pitch, in order to preserve more of our daylight (it only affected our bathroom window anyway).

So you might find that if what they want to do is likely to affect your own "enjoyment of your residence" (which I think is the technical term, or something like it) that they won't be permitted to do exactly as they please, regardless of whether you get involved yourself.

Don't worry too much, it is by no means a done deal.