Next door planning application for extension.
Discussion
Our next door neighbours have submitted a planning application to demolish their garage and build a 2 storey extension. The first we heard was a letter from the council, that has immediately got our backs up a little as they haven't had the courtesy to come and see us first, we are on chatting terms with them but that's about it.
Basically, the garage is between our house and theirs, this will be removed and a 2 storey extension built, to be honest that's ok but then we realised the front of the extension comes out further than the front of their house. Each house in our little row is stepped back as each house has a large rectangular bay window at the front. Our bay window has a 2 seater sofa in and the side of the bay facing towards the neighbours currently looks on to their drive, if they have their extension then this will look at a brick wall about 1.5 meters away.
I think if we had a 'dedicated' window in the wall facing the neighbours then it would get refused, my concern though is that it's just the side of a bay window (the actual side bay window is probably just over a foot, maybe a bit bigger) and I'm not sure the council will view this as a problem ? Would the council just view the bay window as facing forwards and the views out from the sides of it as irrelevant ?
I'm not sure how to reply to the council, do we totally object or would we be better stating we would have no problem if the extension came forward no further than the front of our house and therefore could not be seen from our bay window ? I'm tempted to go and have a word next door but as I said, the fact they didn't have the courtesy to come and see us has put me off going to talk to them and advising them or asking them to revise the plans before submitting them.
Just looking for a bit of advice and people's points of view before continuing with the process.
Basically, the garage is between our house and theirs, this will be removed and a 2 storey extension built, to be honest that's ok but then we realised the front of the extension comes out further than the front of their house. Each house in our little row is stepped back as each house has a large rectangular bay window at the front. Our bay window has a 2 seater sofa in and the side of the bay facing towards the neighbours currently looks on to their drive, if they have their extension then this will look at a brick wall about 1.5 meters away.
I think if we had a 'dedicated' window in the wall facing the neighbours then it would get refused, my concern though is that it's just the side of a bay window (the actual side bay window is probably just over a foot, maybe a bit bigger) and I'm not sure the council will view this as a problem ? Would the council just view the bay window as facing forwards and the views out from the sides of it as irrelevant ?
I'm not sure how to reply to the council, do we totally object or would we be better stating we would have no problem if the extension came forward no further than the front of our house and therefore could not be seen from our bay window ? I'm tempted to go and have a word next door but as I said, the fact they didn't have the courtesy to come and see us has put me off going to talk to them and advising them or asking them to revise the plans before submitting them.
Just looking for a bit of advice and people's points of view before continuing with the process.
Bluedot said:
Our next door neighbours have submitted a planning application to demolish their garage and build a 2 storey extension. The first we heard was a letter from the council, that has immediately got our backs up a little as they haven't had the courtesy to come and see us first, we are on chatting terms with them but that's about it.
Basically, the garage is between our house and theirs, this will be removed and a 2 storey extension built, to be honest that's ok but then we realised the front of the extension comes out further than the front of their house. Each house in our little row is stepped back as each house has a large rectangular bay window at the front. Our bay window has a 2 seater sofa in and the side of the bay facing towards the neighbours currently looks on to their drive, if they have their extension then this will look at a brick wall about 1.5 meters away.
I think if we had a 'dedicated' window in the wall facing the neighbours then it would get refused, my concern though is that it's just the side of a bay window (the actual side bay window is probably just over a foot, maybe a bit bigger) and I'm not sure the council will view this as a problem ? Would the council just view the bay window as facing forwards and the views out from the sides of it as irrelevant ?
I'm not sure how to reply to the council, do we totally object or would we be better stating we would have no problem if the extension came forward no further than the front of our house and therefore could not be seen from our bay window ? I'm tempted to go and have a word next door but as I said, the fact they didn't have the courtesy to come and see us has put me off going to talk to them and advising them or asking them to revise the plans before submitting them.
Just looking for a bit of advice and people's points of view before continuing with the process.
You can object but it has to be a valid planning reason not just 'I dont like it'. So read up on rules. Blocking of light is one of them but it may or may not apply.Basically, the garage is between our house and theirs, this will be removed and a 2 storey extension built, to be honest that's ok but then we realised the front of the extension comes out further than the front of their house. Each house in our little row is stepped back as each house has a large rectangular bay window at the front. Our bay window has a 2 seater sofa in and the side of the bay facing towards the neighbours currently looks on to their drive, if they have their extension then this will look at a brick wall about 1.5 meters away.
I think if we had a 'dedicated' window in the wall facing the neighbours then it would get refused, my concern though is that it's just the side of a bay window (the actual side bay window is probably just over a foot, maybe a bit bigger) and I'm not sure the council will view this as a problem ? Would the council just view the bay window as facing forwards and the views out from the sides of it as irrelevant ?
I'm not sure how to reply to the council, do we totally object or would we be better stating we would have no problem if the extension came forward no further than the front of our house and therefore could not be seen from our bay window ? I'm tempted to go and have a word next door but as I said, the fact they didn't have the courtesy to come and see us has put me off going to talk to them and advising them or asking them to revise the plans before submitting them.
Just looking for a bit of advice and people's points of view before continuing with the process.
It may not be approved anyway so dont start a war with your neighbour over it.
p1stonhead said:
You can object but it has to be a valid planning reason not just 'I dont like it'. So read up on rules. Blocking of light is one of them but it may or may not apply.
It may not be approved anyway so dont start a war with your neighbour over it.
The main rule I was reading about on our local councils site was that extensions/new builds could not be built within 12.5 metres of windows facing in that direction. So I'm not sure if our council would view the side window (facing the neighbours) of our bay as an actual window or irrelevant as obviously the main window of the bay faces forward.It may not be approved anyway so dont start a war with your neighbour over it.
Probably best I call the council and see if I can speak to someone before lodging any objections or talking to the neighbours.
Our current point of view is that if it gets passed then it gets passed, it's just part of life and there's no point in falling out or losing sleep over.
Thanks for the replies.
The neighbours may just have wanted to follow the formal process. We deliberately didn't mention our extension plans to our neighbour because we didn't want to appear to be trying to sway them or coax them into approving our plans. We felt it would be more appropriate to just let the council write to them, spell out their rights, provide them with the opportunity to view the plans and explain how to object if they wished.
Broaching the subject with the neignbours before you formally submit plans also raises the issue of what to do if they object. Do you go ahead and submit them anyway, running the risk of further upsetting the neighbour by effectively ignoring their objections? Change your plans to suit the neighbour? If so, how far do you go to placate them?
As it happened, the neighbour wasn't thrilled by our proposed plans but, as they had no legitimate objection, we were granted permission. Incidentally, we're still on speaking terms with the neighbour and what friction there was seems to have been forgotten now.
Broaching the subject with the neignbours before you formally submit plans also raises the issue of what to do if they object. Do you go ahead and submit them anyway, running the risk of further upsetting the neighbour by effectively ignoring their objections? Change your plans to suit the neighbour? If so, how far do you go to placate them?
As it happened, the neighbour wasn't thrilled by our proposed plans but, as they had no legitimate objection, we were granted permission. Incidentally, we're still on speaking terms with the neighbour and what friction there was seems to have been forgotten now.
Risotto said:
The neighbours may just have wanted to follow the formal process. We deliberately didn't mention our extension plans to our neighbour because we didn't want to appear to be trying to sway them or coax them into approving our plans. We felt it would be more appropriate to just let the council write to them, spell out their rights, provide them with the opportunity to view the plans and explain how to object if they wished.
That's a fair point, I hadn't really thought of it that way.I'll keep the thread posted with the various stages.
Neighbours can be funny sometimes. On both occasions we've extended I've popped over to the neighbours and explained to them what we were doing and when. I even offered to go though our plans (as in drawings) with them but they refused.
On at least one occasion they went to the council offices to view the plans.
Personally I would prefer a knock on the door.
As someone said, view the plans and ask the officials questions.
On at least one occasion they went to the council offices to view the plans.
Personally I would prefer a knock on the door.
As someone said, view the plans and ask the officials questions.
Sir Bagalot said:
Neighbours can be funny sometimes. On both occasions we've extended I've popped over to the neighbours and explained to them what we were doing and when. I even offered to go though our plans (as in drawings) with them but they refused.
On at least one occasion they went to the council offices to view the plans.
Personally I would prefer a knock on the door.
As someone said, view the plans and ask the officials questions.
That's bonkers. I'd rather see them before they were submitted as if I had any comments to make then I would be able to say so right there and then. The likelyhood then would be that things would be adjusted before they were submitted.On at least one occasion they went to the council offices to view the plans.
Personally I would prefer a knock on the door.
As someone said, view the plans and ask the officials questions.
Check your own house deeds aswell.
Ours say we specifically cannot extend forwards of the current front of the house. If your houses were built at the same time / same layout they may have the same.
You don't mention "how much" the extension protrudes ?
As per previous advice, go talk to the council and read up on allowable objections. If you are not happy and you have a legitimate objection, do it....but I'd also go talk to the neighbours aswell out of courtesy.
Ours say we specifically cannot extend forwards of the current front of the house. If your houses were built at the same time / same layout they may have the same.
You don't mention "how much" the extension protrudes ?
As per previous advice, go talk to the council and read up on allowable objections. If you are not happy and you have a legitimate objection, do it....but I'd also go talk to the neighbours aswell out of courtesy.
My Mums neighbours just did pretty much the same thing and added a 2 storey extension. My Mum thought it would be neighbourly to leave them to it and didn't dispute any of the planning application and now she has 6" wide dormer window facing direct into her bathroom. I would advise you to complain as at least the finished article won't be as bad as if you left them unchallenged
We will be putting in for planning permission soon, but as soon as I have the first rough draught of the drawings in my hand I'll be going round to our neighbours to see what they think and let them know our plans.
Seems like common courtesy to me!
Seems like common courtesy to me!
Edited by Rosscow on Tuesday 30th June 13:55
Rosscow said:
We will be putting in for planning permission soon, but as soon as I have the first rough draught of the drawings in my hand I'll be going round to our neighbours to see what they think and let them no our plans.
Seems like common courtesy to me!
But, playing devil's advocate, what will you do if they say they don't like some fundamental aspect of the plans? Submit them anyway? After all, it's your money and, assuming your plans are within the scope of what is permitted, their opinion (as opposed to legitimate objection) will hold no sway with the council. Seems like common courtesy to me!
Alternatively, would you have the plans for your extension redrawn to satisfy your neighbour in the interests of maintaining good relationships?
There's no right or wrong answer, I'm just curious. I guess it depends to a degree on the existing relationship and the nature of their objection. Personally I'm on good terms with our neighbours but I wouldn't necessarily factor their opinion of any proposed alterations into my plans. Then again, I'd like to think I was a reasonable person who wouldn't attempt to build something that would have any significant detrimental effect on a neighbour anyway.
Edited by Risotto on Tuesday 30th June 13:50
Risotto said:
Rosscow said:
We will be putting in for planning permission soon, but as soon as I have the first rough draught of the drawings in my hand I'll be going round to our neighbours to see what they think and let them know our plans.
Seems like common courtesy to me!
But, playing devil's advocate, what will you do if they say they don't like some fundamental aspect of the plans? Submit them anyway? After all, it's your money and, assuming your plans are within the scope of what is permitted, their opinion (as opposed to legitimate objection) will hold no sway with the council. Seems like common courtesy to me!
Alternatively, would you have the plans for your extension redrawn to satisfy your neighbour in the interests of maintaining good relationships?
There's no right or wrong answer, I'm just curious. I guess it depends to a degree on the existing relationship and the nature of their objection. Personally I'm on good terms with our neighbours but I wouldn't necessarily factor their opinion of any proposed alterations into my plans. Then again, I'd like to think I was a reasonable person who wouldn't attempt to build something that would have any significant detrimental effect on a neighbour anyway.
Edited by Risotto on Tuesday 30th June 13:50
Like you, I would not want to live next to people without being on good terms. A property is only a home if it is stress free and you have good neighbours!
I've just had a situation where a neighbour put in for planning without telling anyone. The not knowing what was happening was painful and definitely stirred emotion. This would have been mitigated had we been consulted first.
I see it as good manners to show the neighbours but not everyone does it would appear.
I see it as good manners to show the neighbours but not everyone does it would appear.
NorthDave said:
I've just had a situation where a neighbour put in for planning without telling anyone. The not knowing what was happening was painful and definitely stirred emotion. This would have been mitigated had we been consulted first.
I see it as good manners to show the neighbours but not everyone does it would appear.
You can see the point though can't you. If you're consulted and say no, but they apply anyway then that's created bad feeling. At the end of the day it's the LA that decides who can do what planning wise, not neighbours or local busy bodies. I see it as good manners to show the neighbours but not everyone does it would appear.
What the neighbours say is pretty much irrelevant, it comes down to whether or not the proposal meets planning guidelines. That's how it is.
Cyberprog said:
Sir Bagalot said:
Neighbours can be funny sometimes. On both occasions we've extended I've popped over to the neighbours and explained to them what we were doing and when. I even offered to go though our plans (as in drawings) with them but they refused.
On at least one occasion they went to the council offices to view the plans.
Personally I would prefer a knock on the door.
As someone said, view the plans and ask the officials questions.
That's bonkers. I'd rather see them before they were submitted as if I had any comments to make then I would be able to say so right there and then. The likelyhood then would be that things would be adjusted before they were submitted.On at least one occasion they went to the council offices to view the plans.
Personally I would prefer a knock on the door.
As someone said, view the plans and ask the officials questions.
They had one set of plans for the neighbours and another (different) set that they submitted (and were approved). Nobody thought to check!
I would always check the submitted plans.
kooky guy said:
Don't make the mistake my brother's other half did though and believe unreservedly the plans the neighbour shows you.
They had one set of plans for the neighbours and another (different) set that they submitted (and were approved). Nobody thought to check!
I would always check the submitted plans.
Bet that made them popular with the neighbours!They had one set of plans for the neighbours and another (different) set that they submitted (and were approved). Nobody thought to check!
I would always check the submitted plans.
Thanks all for the advice and replies.
Rosscow said:
We will be putting in for planning permission soon, but as soon as I have the first rough draught of the drawings in my hand I'll be going round to our neighbours to see what they think and let them know our plans.
Seems like common courtesy to me!
Did this with all my adjacent neighbours, not one objection raised, and two of them up there weekends helping out.Seems like common courtesy to me!
Edited by Rosscow on Tuesday 30th June 13:55
Just adding a quick update.
The planning was rejected although not along the grounds we had hoped for.
The planning officer was very accommodating though and even came round to meet us (the neighbours) so we could talk about our various grievances. In total,4 neighbours wrote objection letters (even though only two of us were formally notified).
The planning was basically turned down due to the 'out of keeping' aspect of the proposal, forget about any blocking of light or blocking of view. As long as the planned extension doesn't come across a 45 degree line drawn from the centre of our bay window then it's fine. Our concern is they will resubmit a revised plan more in keeping with the rest of the estate although it will have to be quite different as they were asking for a large double flat roof garage which was thrown out as it would need to be pitched.
We'll have to wait and see and yes we are still all on speaking terms
Thanks to everyone for the advice.
The planning was rejected although not along the grounds we had hoped for.
The planning officer was very accommodating though and even came round to meet us (the neighbours) so we could talk about our various grievances. In total,4 neighbours wrote objection letters (even though only two of us were formally notified).
The planning was basically turned down due to the 'out of keeping' aspect of the proposal, forget about any blocking of light or blocking of view. As long as the planned extension doesn't come across a 45 degree line drawn from the centre of our bay window then it's fine. Our concern is they will resubmit a revised plan more in keeping with the rest of the estate although it will have to be quite different as they were asking for a large double flat roof garage which was thrown out as it would need to be pitched.
We'll have to wait and see and yes we are still all on speaking terms
Thanks to everyone for the advice.
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