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.
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.
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.
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.
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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