Single storey outbuilding being redeveloped as two storey house !

stingrayjjj

My neighbours applied for permission to knock down an old outbuilding in back garden and replace it with a single storey structure, that would contain a home office and laundry room, there was an upper space indicated in plans for 'laundry drying' . But their builders are now constructing a two-storey building with two upper rooms, all fully insulated, plus bathroom and stairwell to access it. There are two lower level windows which face my house, when there was only one in original drawing. The overall height of new structure may about match the plans as they have excavated a lot of earth to dig down and create the necessary height for the two stories. I have contacted the council, sent pics and and they are formally investigating. This new structure is essentially a small new house. What rights do I have and how do I keep up the challenge. All the other neighbours are outraged too.  

jonnydeppiwish!

Wait and see what the council say. There’s no reason why, if needed, they won’t be able to apply for retrospective planning permission and be given it, regardless of how ‘outraged’ you and your neighbours are. Then again, the council might refuse it.

canaldumidi

You have no rights.

But if the neighbour is breaching the planning consent, then he also has no rights.

If the council have been informed and "they are formally investigating." what more do you expect? The council will presumably visit the property and either say "It's fine." or from what you say more liklely will say "Knock it down and comply with the planning application as approved."

The one other thing you could consider is contacting the council's Building Control dept. This is seperate from Planning, and they would enforce compliance with Building Regulations - an entirely different matter.

GDB2222

As @canaldumidi says, you have no rights. However, the council have rights! So, your objective needs to be to get the council to DO something, which is quite hard. 

You need to contact all the councillors for your ward, plus all the councillors on the planning committee. Send them all emails. Send them all letters. 

Gee your neighbours up to do the same. Print out letters for your neighbours to send, complete with SAEs, so all they have to do is sign them. Offer to post the letters for them!

Start a petition. Involve the local paper. I'm running out of ideas here, but maybe ask the local vicar to curse them ...? 

GDB2222

Oh, and speak to Planning Enforcement!

GDB2222

And, your MP!

canaldumidi

GDB2222 said:

And, your MP!

Agree with previous suggestions but that's a bit OTT!

Unless of course OP wants planning laws changed rather than enforced....

stingrayjjj

GDB2222 said:

As @canaldumidi says, you have no rights. However, the council have rights! So, your objective needs to be to get the council to DO something, which is quite hard. 

You need to contact all the councillors for your ward, plus all the councillors on the planning committee. Send them all emails. Send them all letters. 

Gee your neighbours up to do the same. Print out letters for your neighbours to send, complete with SAEs, so all they have to do is sign them. Offer to post the letters for them!

Start a petition. Involve the local paper. I'm running out of ideas here, but maybe ask the local vicar to curse them ...? 

great advice thanks !

GDB2222

If you do get your vicar to curse your neighbour, that’s definitely newsworthy.

jonnydeppiwish!

GDB2222 said:

As @canaldumidi says, you have no rights. However, the council have rights! So, your objective needs to be to get the council to DO something, which is quite hard. 

You need to contact all the councillors for your ward, plus all the councillors on the planning committee. Send them all emails. Send them all letters. 

Gee your neighbours up to do the same. Print out letters for your neighbours to send, complete with SAEs, so all they have to do is sign them. Offer to post the letters for them!

Start a petition. Involve the local paper. I'm running out of ideas here, but maybe ask the local vicar to curse them ...? 

All of which will have absolutely zero effect except planning enforcement. And then they can just apply for retrospective planning permission.
It will then come down to what you can legally object to which, given the limited information so far, is very little.

Sapindus

GDB2222 said:

 Print out letters for your neighbours to send, complete with SAEs, so all they have to do is sign them. Offer to post the letters for them!

I don't think that would "count", at least psychologically.  If the council get a load of identical letters, just the signatures are different, it's going to look like you're really the only person who's bothered.