Neighbor kitchen extension; Objection

Eastender

Hi Folks,

My neighbor has submitted her extension to the council, though she briefly mentioned prior to that to my wife, who replied it would be OK, but she hadn't thought it would block our kitchen window sunlight, when she was spoken to. It's a terraced house.

Now we have got a letter from the council to say if we have any objections. The extension is a single story with 5M length. Not sure if the extension wall will replace our fence, do they have a right to replace our border fence use that as a wall as a divider?

They already have a bricked summer house with pitched roof, whose border does not replace our fence. The summer house wall inside their patch, leaving about 2-3 inch gap between wall and the fence. It was there b4 we moved in.

Our concern is loss of daylight through the kitchen window. Do you think that's a good objection or will the planning would go ahead anyway?

Newuser1987

Assuming this has been done under the neighbour consulation application for larger home extensions. If you were to object the council will be given the opportunity to review the case (sometimes they may just refuse instantly and request they submit a full planning application). The council would then assess the impact the extension would have on you.

Daylight is an issue. However this is for primary windows. Is that the only window your kitchen has? if it is not the primary source of light it would be likely the council would side with your neighbour.

You have asked a few other questions regarding the position etc. I think best to just ask questions to your neighbour. Your neighbour would likely be more annoyed if you havent approached them first as they may have the answers to your queries etc.

Davesnave

Eastender wrote: »

Not sure if the extension wall will replace our fence, do they have a right to replace our border fence use that as a wall as a divider?

It won't replace your fence if you don't want it to, but it's likely the fence will have to be removed temporarily to put in the foundations. These are allowed to come under your land.

A much better solution would be for the wall to be built astride the boundary, so that it becomes a party wall, allowing you, or subsequent owners, to build off it too. That way, an extension to your house wouldn't cost as much, or end up with a narrow, unmaintainable gap between the two structures.

Eastender

Davesnave wrote: »

It won't replace your fence if you don't want it to, but it's likely the fence will have to be removed temporarily to put in the foundations. These are allowed to come under your land.

A much better solution would be for the wall to be built astride the boundary, so that it becomes a party wall, allowing you, or subsequent owners, to build off it too. That way, an extension to your house wouldn't cost as much, or end up with a narrow, unmaintainable gap between the two structures.

I've seen many extensions in my area that have 'un-maintainable gaps', but I see what you mean if the border fence is replaced by their extension for future kitchen extensions by me. I suppose objecting to it due to restrictions on sunlight, which I don't think will be successful, might strain our relationship, though not get on very well, just 'hi' or 'hello'.

flea72

The summer house footprint would be included in the permitted development allowance too, so depending on garden size, the extension may take them over 50%

TELLIT01

Calpol4life wrote: »

please don't shoot me down - but isn't this now within permitted development rules?

I may be mistaken (and id be greatful of someone could actually set me straight) but I thought you could go upto 6m on a terraced house (provided that you are not on designated land) i.e. heritage sites etc?

If that's the case - your objection will probly be meaningless

I'm aware that increasing the size for permitted development has been discussed, but I'm not sure the law has actually changed yet.

As for the wall of the extension becoming the boundary wall, just make sure the roof doesn't extend over your property without your agreement.

JustRi

I hope you don’t get your light blocked.

The new owners to the house adjoining us already have 3 extensions on the rear of their property, 2 of them 2 storey and the last one is single storey and they run along the entire length of our garden forming a boundary wall.
They have just applied for planning permission to build on top of the single storey extension. This would completely block sunlight from midday onwards into our garden and window to rear of house (living room). We put in an extensive objection but the planning officer involved doesn’t see there is a problem !! as they are turning the property into one bedroom flats and that meets the councils objectives for the area.