Legal Q? - Neighbour's garage rebuild
Discussion
Not sure if this might have been better in SP&tL but a quick look in there revealed just car related subjects. I don't expect any binding expert legal advice...
TL:DR; Next-door-but-one rebuilding garage on existing footprint, putting up a tall roof that blocks the view - is it legal?
We live on the side of a fairly gentle hill, which means that from the door we can see over the gardens to what remains of some woodland. The people next-door-but-1 down have 2 garages behind each other (not actually usable as garages now they have extended the house up to the plot boundary). The garage closest to the house was built in the early 1970s - standard garage size and height, roof flush with the walls and hedges of the houses. The current owners have understandably decided to demolish it and build a new block-built construction, possibly to be used as a party room or similar. The main part of the building seems to be on the plan of the previous garage. So far, so good.
I came back today to find that the 45 degree pitched roof (previously it was flat) is probably as high again as the main garage, and blots out the view. It seems a tad... well mahoosive to be honest. Nothing has come up on the local authority planning permission lists. Now, I'm not massively chuffed that they are blocking out what remains of the view, but I suspect there's not a lot I can do about that. But - according to the Planning Portal:
" If the outbuilding is within 2 metres of the property boundary the whole building should not exceed 2.5 metres in height."
This seems to be more like 4m than 2.5m. Maybe they are after retrospective consent with the thought that "nah they won't make us change that". It abuts and may even form part of the boundary wall.
A pic if that helps:
Surely they should have planning consent for that? Any thoughts?
TL:DR; Next-door-but-one rebuilding garage on existing footprint, putting up a tall roof that blocks the view - is it legal?
We live on the side of a fairly gentle hill, which means that from the door we can see over the gardens to what remains of some woodland. The people next-door-but-1 down have 2 garages behind each other (not actually usable as garages now they have extended the house up to the plot boundary). The garage closest to the house was built in the early 1970s - standard garage size and height, roof flush with the walls and hedges of the houses. The current owners have understandably decided to demolish it and build a new block-built construction, possibly to be used as a party room or similar. The main part of the building seems to be on the plan of the previous garage. So far, so good.
I came back today to find that the 45 degree pitched roof (previously it was flat) is probably as high again as the main garage, and blots out the view. It seems a tad... well mahoosive to be honest. Nothing has come up on the local authority planning permission lists. Now, I'm not massively chuffed that they are blocking out what remains of the view, but I suspect there's not a lot I can do about that. But - according to the Planning Portal:
" If the outbuilding is within 2 metres of the property boundary the whole building should not exceed 2.5 metres in height."
This seems to be more like 4m than 2.5m. Maybe they are after retrospective consent with the thought that "nah they won't make us change that". It abuts and may even form part of the boundary wall.
A pic if that helps:
Surely they should have planning consent for that? Any thoughts?
I should have known better after all these years than to ask the massed ranks of country living millionaire well built company director PHs... 
Yes, that really is the best view from here, pylon or not. I realise it isn't a sweeping view of the Chilterns, hence me being pissed off that we're losing the only view of anything vaguely countryside-ish (it seems a surprise to people here that trees lose their leaves in winter?). The rest of the joyous view is (now) high density Barratt estates.
The construction is right up against the boundary wall, possibly part of it, but it is a long time ago since I was last there, so I don't know.
Not being invited to the party room is the least of my worries, they have 3 (currently) pre-teen kids and are child minders during the week, the room will probably be used for that. I realise that I may miss out on some strawberry jelly and exciting chances to do finger-painting. Other than that they haven't done a lot to annoy me specifically, but they have been rather less than sympathetic to the elderly couple and their disabled son who live in the house between us, which doesn't really endear me to them.
A roof ridge in line with regulations would have been absolutely fine though. I have to obey building regs, why shouldn't they? Yes, I have asked the council for an opinion, so shoot me.
Yes, that really is the best view from here, pylon or not. I realise it isn't a sweeping view of the Chilterns, hence me being pissed off that we're losing the only view of anything vaguely countryside-ish (it seems a surprise to people here that trees lose their leaves in winter?). The rest of the joyous view is (now) high density Barratt estates.
The construction is right up against the boundary wall, possibly part of it, but it is a long time ago since I was last there, so I don't know.
Not being invited to the party room is the least of my worries, they have 3 (currently) pre-teen kids and are child minders during the week, the room will probably be used for that. I realise that I may miss out on some strawberry jelly and exciting chances to do finger-painting. Other than that they haven't done a lot to annoy me specifically, but they have been rather less than sympathetic to the elderly couple and their disabled son who live in the house between us, which doesn't really endear me to them.
A roof ridge in line with regulations would have been absolutely fine though. I have to obey building regs, why shouldn't they? Yes, I have asked the council for an opinion, so shoot me.
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