Objecting to Planning Permission?

planning_officer

UncleMonty wrote: »

I would recommend employing a planning consultant to do your objection or provide advice for you as they will be able to focus on the material considerations of the future reserved matters application. Neighbour objections are seldom given weight as they usually do not grasp planning considerations.

I wouldn't go so far to say that neighbour objections are seldom given weight - all planning objections are given weight as a material consideration. You're right, a consultant would hone in on the planning issues, but with a small scale development such as this, it's quite easy to object on planning grounds: in this case, neighbour amenity.

Geenie

jaype wrote: »

Check what they applied for and what was actually built. if it looks too big they may well be pulling a fast one and you can get the council to have them tear it down... On the other hand, if this is what was applied for and people are now moaning about it, they have only their apathy to blame!

Know who sold it, so know what was in the outline and what is now being built is not the same. Much bigger! But the neighbours haven't complained so I assume apathy has set in, so like you say can't complain if when finished they don't like.

Night-owl_6

http://www.planning-applications.co.uk/objection.htm

Night-owl_6

Full name and address of sender
Four Marks, Alton
Hampshire GU34 XXX DD/MMM/YYY REFERENCE F.NNNNN/00N/FUL

Dear Mr/Mrs Case Officer
I wish to OBJECT to the application reference xxxxxx address, nr Alton, Hampshire.

You must use objective reasons that break planning guidelines, or local / district / county / area plan details, or for utilities or highways or emergency services. Vague emotional complaints, irrelevant non-planning issues, and any commercial/ financial have to be ignored by the Planning Officers, however much they may sympathise with you.
Short bullet points are better than long rambling sentences.
Due to my valid objections, I urge you to reject this inappropriate planning application.
Yours sincerely, Name

UncleMonty_2

planning_officer wrote: »

I wouldn't go so far to say that neighbour objections are seldom given weight - all planning objections are given weight as a material consideration. You're right, a consultant would hone in on the planning issues, but with a small scale development such as this, it's quite easy to object on planning grounds: in this case, neighbour amenity.

Yes but its often the case that a neighbour objection wouldn't address the specific issues in terms of neighbour amenity i.e. design, privacy distances etc

As I'm sure you find more often than not its a scribbled letter or e-mail with "The house is too big and it reduces our amenity. Our views are restricted and no light reaches the garden etc"

ClassicMad

Well.... we visted the planning office yesterday. The house practically takes up the whole width of the plot. The style of the building (bricks/tiles etc) and placement on the plot is all within the character of the road it is on. And there is great emphasis in the accompanying notes that consideration of the neighbours either side has resulted in there being no windows to the side of the building. Which basically means that all of the windows are facing us!! We will have the master bedroom, ensuite bathroom (obscured glass i hope!), window on the staircase and the 2nd bedroom all looking into our kitchen and living area, and also garden(s) (we have a small garden either side of our garage). We asked the PO about the fact that our garden would be in shadow due to the sheer closeness of the house to it... he was quite dismissive of this. He worked out where the sun came up in relation to our house etc, and basically said that it wouldn't affect it... I was trying to make more of a point of general daylight being an issue than anything... I mean, you may not have sunlight streaming through your window at every point in the day, but if you built a brick wall in front of it you'd notice a difference, wouldn't you :rotfl: ?

And, it appears we are on our own with the objections.... the house one side of the plot can't object (his landlords sold the land with OPP in the first place), the other side doesn't have a problem.... my adjoined neighbour is moving in the next couple of weeks.... and the other side is in his 90's and currently not living at home.... further round the corner won't be affected as they have trees obscuring their view.

On another note.... in readiness for this planning going ahead we have grown a leylandi hedge - it's about 7ft tall at present (well trimmed and looked after, not hideously overgrown).... I know that people have had injunctions before to make them cut hedges down.... so, if our "right to light" is dismissed, will our new neighbours have any right to make us cut them down? I mean if our light isn't being affected by their house, then surely our hedge won't affect them?

Thanks to everybody for links and advice so far... please keep it coming... :T

poppysarah

My only other suggestion would be to find rare newts on the site...

ClassicMad

Funny you should say that... we have a lot of Roman connections around here.... I thought about knocking up some mosaic and leaving that somewhere to be found....

poppysarah

Ooo at the very least ancient ruins would need achaelogists to record them, at best the site gets preserved...

That couple in bolton were good at making things...

BobProperty

ClassicMad wrote: »

....We asked the PO about the fact that our garden would be in shadow due to the sheer closeness of the house to it... he was quite dismissive of this. He worked out where the sun came up in relation to our house etc, and basically said that it wouldn't affect it... I was trying to make more of a point of general daylight being an issue than anything... I mean, you may not have sunlight streaming through your window at every point in the day, but if you built a brick wall in front of it you'd notice a difference, wouldn't you :rotfl: ?....

IIRC there is a specific calculation that is done for these situations, which is where the "He worked out where the sun came up in relation to our house etc, and basically said that it wouldn't affect it" probably is derived from.