Dementia Home wanting to expand into semi detached neighbour

brindlebum

Doozergirl wrote: »

I didn't say that money's post was paranoid, but considering somone's thought process is a total waste of time because you can never know the answer. It can also create distress when you believe your thoughts. You deal with what is in front of you. All that exists is now.

Although her posts get more weird. The National policy, along with local development plans and supplementary planning guidance are what guides planning decisions. Not whether one councillor has an elderly relative. Most planning decisions are made by one planning officer. More contentious cases may be decided by committee of a dozen or so councillors. They still have to make their decisions on policy.

Countless threads like this go entirely off point while people get sucked in to thinking about things they can't know.

Hi doozergirl, thanks I didn't want to insult you - I think your pragmatic approach is probably just as valid as money's, but coming at it from a different angle. It's refreshing and useful to hear all constructive points of view on this forum, so thank you both for your advice, all of which has helped.

sparky130a

Right, all assumptions and prejudices aside...

What exactly OP do you think is going to happen?

Not a single person on here sits on the committee that'll decide this matter. And that's on the assumption your neighbour sells.

That being the case...

Sell up
Shut up
Or fight something that hasn't even happened

happyandcontented

I imagine most of us would object vociferously to a semi being relegated to a terrace regardless of what was attached?

The OP is just exploring whether that is a realistic possibility given that her neighbour has had an approach. Who wouldn't?

Money talks, and if the neighbour is offered enough, they may well take it, especially as they have only just moved in and will have no emotional ties to the home. There is mileage in finding out why now, when six months ago they could have bought when it was on the open market.

Have they had the nod that planning is likely to be granted? Who would embark upon such a purchase without doing their homework? The care system is in chaos, the council may have indicated they will look favourably on any expansion to help with bed blocking.

I imagine they would like both properties but are taking a divide and conquer approach. Unfortunately, the Op is in the least desirable property from the perpective of the nursing home, they would only want hers if neighbour A sells, and if they do they then have the OP over a barrel. Unfortunately, no matter what neighbour A says now, if enough money is thrown at them they will probably cave in.

In the OP's shoes I would be making an appointment with my local planning and asking for their views. I would also check with my old neighbour if they had been approached, and get it documented that they had issues with safety. Then I would cross my fingers and hope my neighbours hold out and stand beside me.

moneyistooshorttomention

Valid points indeed H & C:T.

The "nod on planning" may well be the thing that has made the difference between now and some months back (ie when neighbours property was for sale). Perhaps the care home felt pessimistic about getting "the nod" back then - but maybe there has been a change of councillors or something and they are a sight more optimistic now.

Worth going online and looking up the Council minutes for the last year or so to see if they shed any light on this imo.

sparky130a

happyandcontented wrote: »

I imagine most of us would object vociferously to a semi being relegated to a terrace regardless of what was attached?

The OP is just exploring whether that is a realistic possibility given that her neighbour has had an approach. Who wouldn't?

Money talks, and if the neighbour is offered enough, they may well take it, especially as they have only just moved in and will have no emotional ties to the home. There is mileage in finding out why now, when six months ago they could have bought when it was on the open market.

Have they had the nod that planning is likely to be granted? Who would embark upon such a purchase without doing their homework? The care system is in chaos, the council may have indicated they will look favourably on any expansion to help with bed blocking.

I imagine they would like both properties but are taking a divide and conquer approach. Unfortunately, the Op is in the least desirable property from the perpective of the nursing home, they would only want hers if neighbour A sells, and if they do they then have the OP over a barrel. Unfortunately, no matter what neighbour A says now, if enough money is thrown at them they will probably cave in.

In the OP's shoes I would be making an appointment with my local planning and asking for their views. I would also check with my old neighbour if they had been approached, and get it documented that they had issues with safety. Then I would cross my fingers and hope my neighbours hold out and stand beside me.

So exactly, a complete load of if's,but's and maybe's....

The whole premise is hypothetical.

happyandcontented

sparky130a wrote: »

So exactly, a complete load of if's,but's and maybe's....

The whole premise is hypothetical.

Only when it is happening to someone else;)

AdrianC

happyandcontented wrote: »

I imagine most of us would object vociferously to a semi being relegated to a terrace regardless of what was attached?

The OP's house has another property connected to one side now - and will at the end.
The OP's house has nothing connected to the other side now - and won't at the end.

Like I said - there are three things needed here...

The neighbour to sell.
PP for change of use.
PP for the building work.

happyandcontented

AdrianC wrote: »

The OP's house has another property connected to one side now - and will at the end.
The OP's house has nothing connected to the other side now - and won't at the end.

Like I said - there are three things needed here...

The neighbour to sell.
PP for change of use.
PP for the building work.

A semi is two buildings attached....with a gap between the next. That gap won't exist so the house will effectively become an end terrace.

I agree three things are needed, and who knows if they have had the unoffical nod that planners can see no issues? If you watch the property programmes planners are often consulted by prospective buyers for opinions on the chances of PP being approved.

brindlebum

Thats definitely some food for thought and I think you've summed up my fears pretty well. I will ask outright about why they didn't try to buy last year next time I see the home manager. He didn't strike me as a tremendously good liar when I met him, so will be interesting to see if I get a straight answer or whether he squirms a bit!

I'll definitely be making an appointment with a planning officer this week and seeing how they think the land lies. There's been no plans submitted yet (I've checked) but that's not to say they haven't had conversations with the council on it.

Like I've said, I really don't want to move, but I also am willing to be reasonable and sell to them to facilitate their expansion. I just don't want to be screwed over as it has the possibility of really ruining us. We can't afford to take a hit on our house. I worry that their initial move is already an underhand way of trying to bully us down, so I think I'm right to be wary of them acting in a fair manner.

sparky130a

happyandcontented wrote: »

Only when it is happening to someone else;)

Oh !!!!!!.

There IS nothing happening. Nothing, nada, not a thing yet.

If one is that bothered about what MIGHT happen buy a place in the highlands. Though no doubt some crazy will tell you that's about to be concreted over...