Possible unauthorised development notice

squealingjedi

I have been advised an enforcement officer wants to "clarify" the situation with a visit regarding the building erected in my back garden. 
Brief background.  I had a garage in the back garden when I bought my house in 1997 (timber frame & asbestos sides and roof) this was taken down circa 2007 due to it deteriorating and in 2017 I rebuilt it using single skin concrete blocks. 
I'm not sure as to why they want to visit(other than a sticky beak neighbour) but I was looking for any help if anyone had had a similar experience. It is on the existing concrete base and is more 2 metres from my house. Any ideas please?

Section62

squealingjedi said:

I have been advised an enforcement officer wants to "clarify" the situation with a visit regarding the building erected in my back garden. 
Brief background.  I had a garage in the back garden when I bought my house in 1997 (timber frame & asbestos sides and roof) this was taken down circa 2007 due to it deteriorating and in 2017 I rebuilt it using single skin concrete blocks. 
I'm not sure as to why they want to visit(other than a sticky beak neighbour) but I was looking for any help if anyone had had a similar experience. It is on the existing concrete base and is more 2 metres from my house. Any ideas please?

Probably checking it isn't a bed-in-shed type scenario.  The door and windows look the part, and it is one of the few things which attracts interest from planning enforcement after so long.

squealingjedi

hope it is that simple !  it's only a garden pub type thing and no-one lives/sleeps there. Who knows how it has been seen though. I'm closed in by other properties on 3 sides and it can't be seen from the front of the house

Section62

squealingjedi said:

hope it is that simple !  it's only a garden pub type thing and no-one lives/sleeps there. Who knows how it has been seen though. I'm closed in by other properties on 3 sides and it can't be seen from the front of the house

Councils have been known to have people studying aerial imagery looking out for buildings in gardens which may be used as additional accommodation.  I've heard of one working with the police to identify 'hot' garden sheds/garages that could be used for accommodation or drug production.

If you aren't doing anything like that the planning officer will probably take a quick look inside and tell you everything is fine.

sevenhills

squealingjedi said:

Brief background.  I had a garage in the back garden when I bought my house in 1997 (timber frame & asbestos sides and roof) this was taken down circa 2007 due to it deteriorating and in 2017 I rebuilt it using single skin concrete blocks. 
I'm not sure as to why they want to visit.

It looks like it backs onto your neighbors fence, you replaced a wooden building with a permanent structure, those maybe the issues?

Rosa_Damascena

squealingjedi said:

hope it is that simple !  it's only a garden pub type thing and no-one lives/sleeps there. Who knows how it has been seen though. I'm closed in by other properties on 3 sides and it can't be seen from the front of the house

Are you sure you have never fallen asleep in there after a skinful?

The_Fat_Controller

That is obviously NOT a garage, so I can see why there may be an issue.

Section62

The_Fat_Controller said:

That is obviously NOT a garage, so I can see why there may be an issue.

It doesn't have to be a garage, unless there was a planning condition requiring the original building to be retained as a garage.

As the original was a timber/asbestos structure it is very unlikely such a condition would have been imposed.

If one was, then provided there is still sufficient off-street parking, an application by the OP to have the condition varied would almost certainly be allowed on appeal (if it got that far).

Cash-Cows

Permitted development rights have a height restriction of 2.5m plus other conditions. Could that be the issue?

Grumpy_chap

squealingjedi said:

I have been advised an enforcement officer wants to "clarify" the situation with a visit regarding the building erected in my back garden. 
Brief background.  I had a garage in the back garden when I bought my house in 1997 (timber frame & asbestos sides and roof) this was taken down circa 2007 due to it deteriorating and in 2017 I rebuilt it using single skin concrete blocks. 
I'm not sure as to why they want to visit(other than a sticky beak neighbour) but I was looking for any help if anyone had had a similar experience. It is on the existing concrete base and is more 2 metres from my house. Any ideas please?

Demolish and rebuild usually requires planning permission.

Outbuildings are permitted under PD subject to constraints on height, total size less than 50% garden and (usually) greater than 5 m from house.

There probably is a "steaky beak neighbour" as you put it.

You will probably be invited to apply for retrospective planning permission, if the Council Officer is not satisfied it is within PD.  Be very nice when they visit.

Section62

Grumpy_chap said:

You will probably be invited to apply for retrospective planning permission, if the Council Officer is not satisfied it is within PD.  Be very nice when they visit.

Even if it was built in 2017?