my neighbour built platform with no planning permission

jjimjam

A couple of years ago,my neighbour had a platform built on the front of his house.  It's about big enough for a few people to sit on, as is about 1.5m high.   From it, we can be seen as we come and go and as we do gardening jobs in the front garden.  I'm fairly chilled about it for a various reasons, but I don't really want it there forever.  It could be used in a way that really annoys me.

I'm fairly sure that this needs planning permission and that it probably wouldn't be granted.  If I wanted to delay my objection, is that OK?    How long do I get to object before planning permission is no longer required?

Brie

When our small porch at the back of our house was collapsing we were told that if it was taken away and then rebuilt to be substantially the same (i.e. 1 m above the ground) we would need planning permission.  If it was under 1m no permission was required.  And if what was there was merely repaired no permission was required.  We went for a repair as being the simplest option.

Have you checked your council website for what requires planning.  

DullGreyGuy

What do you mean it's 1.5m high? As in its on stilts with steps up to it?

Generally if it goes 4 years with no one pointing out that its been built without planning permission it's unlikely any action requiring retrospective planning permission will happen. 

jjimjam

Yes 1.5m high, with stilts and steps.    The rail and seat is higher.

DE_612183

Does it overlook other houses?

jjimjam

DE_612183 said:

Does it overlook other houses?

It doesn't really.    It overlooks my front garden.    It would overlook the neighbour on other side, but there's plenty of foliage screening there.

Section62

jjimjam said:

I'm fairly sure that this needs planning permission and that it probably wouldn't be granted.  If I wanted to delay my objection, is that OK?    How long do I get to object before planning permission is no longer required?

The council's time limit for starting enforcement action is probably (in this case) four years, but the longer you leave it before complaining the less it may look like a genuine complaint, and the more it may appear to be an attempt at pursuing a neighbour dispute.

If you weren't unhappy with it a couple of years ago the planning enforcement team may wonder why it has only become an issue now.

Although it does sound like planning consent was needed, the LPA isn't obliged to take enforcement action.  As time passes the LPA can quite reasonably take the lack of previous objection or complaint to mean this isn't something they need to expend their limited resources on.

Ganga

Can you show photos of the decking please.

jjimjam

It's not fixed well to the house or ground but it is fairly big.   It could be moved just by lifting.  It would take 2 or 3 strong people to do it.  But that doesn't mean it's a temporary structure, does it?

Section62

jjimjam said:

It's not fixed well to the house or ground but it is fairly big.   It could be moved just by lifting.  It would take 2 or 3 strong people to do it.  But that doesn't mean it's a temporary structure, does it?

Being a temporary structure doesn't alter the need (or not) for planning consent.

ThisIsWeird

Two options, Jimjam - report it to planning, and as S62 indicates, try and have a reason why your objection is seemingly 'delayed'. Perhaps things like, "I've just pruned back the shrubs between us, and only now realise how obtrusive it is, and our loss of privacy." Or, "It's become an issue now as they make it very clear with their actions that they know they can look over our front garden, and they seem to derive some enjoyment from this..." - if that's true.

Or, plant some screening.