Neighbours planning massive extension, she thinks it's only small.

Bumblebees123

Hi All

Just wanted to pick some brains, as I don't have a lot of experience with this kind of thing. My neighbour is planning (what I consider to be) an abolutely massive single/double storey extension, loft conversion and complete gutting and renovation of the existing cottage (it's an 100+ year old semi).

The planned ground floor extension alone is 85 msq. That's before you add on everything else.

They are basically building another house on the back of what is there. Looking at all the extension information on google, it seems to be that this is a huge development, yet my neighbour is insisting it's just a small extension and cannot understand why the neighbours are getting a little upset.

What would you class as a small / large extension?

Doozergirl

I don't really see why it matters what size people think it is.  It is exactly whatever size it is.  

It might be small to them compared to what they've done in the past but anything at all might be too much for some neighbours.  It's irrelevant.   

theonlywayisup

We converted a barn and added an 'extension' to it that was larger than the barn itself. Would I consider that a large extension - probably not as the barn itself was tiny but now it suits being a holiday cottage. 

Are you asking for help with fighting the application that your neighbour has submitted?  I can't quite work out if it is a single or a double extension (or both?).  What is the local vernacular, in particular the adjoining property?  Have they extended?  You can look at the planning on the planning portal, Google itself probably isn't the best place. 

Bumblebees123

theonlywayisup said:

We converted a barn and added an 'extension' to it that was larger than the barn itself. Would I consider that a large extension - probably not as the barn itself was tiny but now it suits being a holiday cottage. 

Are you asking for help with fighting the application that your neighbour has submitted?  I can't quite work out if it is a single or a double extension (or both?).  What is the local vernacular, in particular the adjoining property?  Have they extended?  You can look at the planning on the planning portal, Google itself probably isn't the best place. 

She is planning on submitting it. Essentially half will be single storey (flat roof), the othe half double. The planned ground floor is 85 msq, 2nd floor 42 msq. It projects 10m+ beyond all neighbouring cottages and the double storey will have implications for light and privacy. It's a village cottage, completely out of proportion and just dwarfs everything around it. She already knows there will be a lot of objections. It's just her insistance that its only a small extension that's grating. It's like shes suggesting shes going to add on a porch or something, when it really isn't.

Having looked at various extension info type sites, they all seem to think 35 sqm is "large" which makes this huge.

All I wanted to know is what people think is a "large extension"  with regards to Square meterage on a normal domestic level (not talking grand designs mansions here).

 

Andy_L

I'd of said that "small" would be anything that can be done under permitted development, ie doesn't need planning permission. Which this wouldn't come under 

https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/extensions/planning-permission

tacpot12

Any extension that doubles the size of the property (which this sounds like it is doing) is a large extension, and she may find that she is liable for a Community Infrastructure Levy due to the size of the extension. 

You can search the Internet to see if your local authority makes Community Infrastructure Levies and on what size of developments. If they do, the additional cost may cause her to reduce the extension to a size that means that there is no levy. If I were her, I would pay the levy if I needed to do so, to get the size of extension that I want.

Your best route is to make your objections via the planning process, and help others to do the same by offering to show them how to register their objections online.

TELLIT01

It's a large extension in my world but you, and other neighbours, will have an opportunity to raise objections during the planning process.  Privacy issues can often be overcome by requiring obscured glass in windows overlooking other properties, but not windows overlooking gardens only.  Light can be more contentious.

Rosa_Damascena

Sounds big to me, but what difference will semantics make? Either it gets PP or it doesn't.

mrschaucer

If you are going to object to this, you need to make sure your measurements are correct.  85msq is not the same as 85sqm!

Gavin83

I think you’re focusing on the wrong details here. Honestly it doesn’t matter whether someone classes it as big or small. What matters is whether the planned design gets approved or not. Put your objections in and the council will make their decision.

If they deal with the privacy and light issues (which are almost certainly solvable) will you then be satisfied?

casper_gutman

mrschaucer said:

If you are going to object to this, you need to make sure your measurements are correct.  85msq is not the same as 85sqm!

The planning officer (and the planning committee, if it gets to them) will be able to see how big it is from the plans submitted, so OP doesn't need to tell them. In fact, it would be better not to as a factual error could possibly be seen as undermining any objection she makes. Better just to say that the proposed extension seems very large and overbearing than to say HOW large and make a mistake.