Neighbours plan an extension - anything we should check / keep an eye on?

andre_xs

Hi All,
Just to clarify: We are very friendly with our neighbours, and we don't object their plans for an extension. They are first-time home owners like we are, and they are surely no experts in building works at all and will leave all decisions to architects/builders. Therefore, I was wondering whether there's something we, as neighbours, should keep an eye on? Anything which may go wrong which may impact our property and/or the value of our property?

I guess they have submitted their plans for buildings control (or something like that), because a few days ago we received the letter from the council that they plan an extension. At the same time we get unsolicited letters from solicitors that we could hire them to make sure our neighbours don't violate any rules and guidelines regarding the party wall. Personally, I don't think we need them.

We live in terraced houses, where we have a kind of alleyway between our houses (above the alleyway is their property, they have 3-bed, we have 2-bed). Thus, their extension won't reach the actual border of our property, because they have to keep the alleyway free.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Best wishes,

Andre

Ant555

Have you viewed the plans on the council planning portal?  This may assist with anything specific to keep an eye on.

andre_xs

No, not yet. They told us what they plan to do, but we haven't looked at the official plans yet (it's just 2 days ago). Good idea, we'll do this.

diystarter7

Hi

The only thing I can say is, never forget they will be under pressure/stressed etc and it is going to cost them a lot of money.
They could end up with S builders where the work drags on for a lot longer.
Noise may start early and finish late

whenever I see building works on our road it makes me happy as they are making the street look better and showing they care for their property.

Good luck

andre_xs

Thanks for the comments.

This is from the planning portal:
- Single storey rear extension with rooflights, single storey front extension and relocation of main entrance door
- Regarding the roof, they say: "Pitched tiled roofs to closely match the existing". It won't be a flat roof according to plans, but a roof which goes up to right under the window sills of the first floor windows.
- The planned extension will go 4m into the garden (width 5m; nearly full width of the house, maybe 1m (or less) between the extension wall and the border.

theonlywayisup

andre_xs said:

Thanks for the comments.

This is from the planning portal:
- Single storey rear extension with rooflights, single storey front extension and relocation of main entrance door
- Regarding the roof, they say: "Pitched tiled roofs to closely match the existing". It won't be a flat roof according to plans, but a roof which goes up to right under the window sills of the first floor windows.
- The planned extension will go 4m into the garden (width 5m; nearly full width of the house, maybe 1m (or less) between the extension wall and the border.

Have you looked at the elevations drawings, there will be existing and proposed.  Does it have any effect on your property?  None of us can comment on the 'words' without having it in context. 

How does the front extension relate to the rest of the terraced houses?

prowla

A few thoughts:

• I've seen a thread here where the neighbours extension had guttering which overhung or ran into their garden.
• Where windows are placed can impact privacy.
• Presumably there may need to be access & scaffolding during the building period.
• I was going to ask will there need to be access once it's completed, but the alleyway covers the answer.
• Is there any impact on drains?
  

Slinky

Don't assume they will leave the alleyway clear. They could be planning to build up to your boundary and creating a door from the alley into their new extension. They probably aren't but you can only find out by looking at the submitted drawings. Even then, they could make amendments to the plans after they get approval (which amendments may be given a new reference number), so keep checking back on the planning portal if you see anything happening that doesn't appear to be what you were originally thought you were going to get.

macman

This is for PP, then nothing to do with Building Control.
They will need to serve a PWN on you before commencing work, assuming PP is granted.

andre_xs

Again, many thanks to all. Below are screenshots from the planning permission.

Top one shows the floor plans. In the middle you see the alleyway and the red line is the border. We're on the right. The bit with the 4000 is the planned extension. So they don't plan to block the alleyway, but there's really not much space left between extension and border, I guess 1m max.

The bottom one shows the elevations in side view (like we would see it from our property). We don't mind the front extension, it's towards a bit busy road and we're not hanging out there anyway
However, regarding the rear extension, the main bit I'm slightly worried / unhappy about is that they don't have a flat roof (what I thought) but a pitched roof. As you can see on the floor plan, our patio door is right next to it, and it will just take away more light than a flat roof. I guess the pitched roof will be 1m or more higher than a flat roof (where the extension connects to the house)?
From our property, they neighbours are towards north, so the extension won't block any sun/sunlight, but still it'll probably make our patio and the room facing the patio darker. 

Would there be any point in submitting a comment during the planning stage to request/suggest a flat roof instead? (After having spoken to the neighbours first).

Also, I could imagine that the neighbour on the other side is more affected, because for them it takes sun away, but it is a very elderly couple (I guess at least 75-80 years old; husband nearly blind) so I'm not sure they'd raise this issue. Would it be a good idea to speak to them as well?

Just to clarify again, we're not objecting the extension as such, we know that they have a very good and valid reason for this.

Best wishes,

Andre

diystarter7

Hi OP
Thanks

Yes, speak with the next door on the other side but from what you said, IMHO they just want a quiet life.

I'm sure everything will be ok. Just put yourself in their shoes, they must be worried a tad re what the builders will do, others think, etc, etc.

Have a chat, social type chat and when they expect builders to work as it is diffuclt getting builders/materials these days and take it from there and tell them it sounds great and love to see when completed as you may do something similar but undecided etc-  make it up as you got along and when the build starts ask if everything is going ok and if you can do anyhting and then you can drop a hint if you have a concern etc - I'm sure it will be ok but do not forget my first post here.

Good luck