We have almost completed selling house but neighbour has just applied for planning permission

Gavbo2013

Looking for some help please

We have sold our house and are literally days away from getting a completion date. But we have now just received though the post a letter from the planning department saying that the neighbour has applied for planning permission for a side extension and hip to gable roof with dormer.

We live in a link semi detached where our house is connected to the neighbour by garage. We have an extension above our garage, which was built in the 70's and is on the border between the properties. Now the neighbour basically wants to do the same, but go into their loft as well. They have applied to join onto our existing extension, which I am not happy about as it would create a 'terracing' effect, so I will be objectiing on these grounds and asking for the plan to be amended to leave a gap. This is the only thing I have a problem with, not them actually extending etc.

When we sold the property we filled in a property information form, which asks about this type of thing. Obviously at the time there wasn't anything, but now there is this. 

So what I'm wanting to know is peoples opinions whether this may put my buyers off now if they found out and should this all be declared to the solicitor now so close to completion? 

PS We don't have any problems with our neighbours at all and get on really well!

Browntoa

I'd not be objecting to a planning application if I was moving . 

Doozergirl

Browntoa said:

I'd not be objecting to a planning application if I was moving . 

Me neither! 

That aside, in order not to create a 'terracing effect' you need more than a 'gap'.  A gap prevents it actually becoming a terrace.  The 'effect' of a terrace is created when the gap is still small.  A gap is more problematic from a maintenance point of view than actually being joined.  

 If the terracing effect is an issue for councils, they usually dictate that a metre needs to be left on either side.  It might be that the council turn it down outright.

Either way, it appears that you have an obligation now to tell your buyers.  But logging an objection isn't going to help you sell to them. 
 

Gavbo2013

Thanks for the replies. Tbh it wouldn't put me off buying personally as it's a fairly straight forward extension, nothing out of the ordinary. But I wonder if it may put some people off.....

I think I'll just leave the objection this close to completion as it may cause more harm than good and just tell the solicitor the neighbour has applied for planning, then hope for the best!

It may get knocked back anyway without any intervention.

AdrianC

"I've built up to the boundary, but I think it's terribly unfair of my neighbour to want to do the same..."

Gavbo2013

AdrianC said:

"I've built up to the boundary, but I think it's terribly unfair of my neighbour to want to do the same..."

I've not built anything....it was done in the 70's, as per my original post...think planning may have been a bit different then....

getmore4less

We have sold our house and are literally days away from getting a completion date.

Have you exchanged?

Gavbo2013

getmore4less said:

We have sold our house and are literally days away from getting a completion date.

Have you exchanged?

Not actually exchanged yet. Next week according to solicitor, then completion date can be given. 

Jeepers_Creepers

The point is, you have an extension over your garage right to the boundary - just because your house got there first... 

Sorry, it is unreasonable for you to even consider not wanting the link-detached house to do the same, and - as pointed out before - leaving such a gap would complicate maintenance for both parties and probably look a bit silly too. 

I think you just need to ride this one out; chances are that, even without the PP application, anyone viewing would realise that the likelihood of an extension there at some point would be pretty high.  

I would, tho', suggest your solicitor informs the other party to have a Party Wall Act arrangement put in place, but that's not your problem - provided the house continues to sell.

Rotten timing, but it shouldn't make much of a difference.  

onwards&upwards

Don't count on exchange going ahead as planned once your buyers are aware of the application. They will likely want some time to think it through and consider their options.  

Mickygg

It could make a difference, it would put me off. Moving into a new house when a large amount of building work is imminent is not something to look forward to, especially as a loft conversion and side extension is a big job. Certainly expect a delay in exchange while the buyers look at the plans and think it through. Unless it was the only house for me it really would make me think twice about buying it. 

As said above you can’t leave a gap unless you can gain access so the gap would need to be big enough for that. I’m not sure I would be objecting.