To object to neighbour's planning proposal?

[hyperhypermum]

House next door has recently changed hands. New owners seem really nice and we're keen to get along with them. They have submitted plans to extend their house. The proposal is way outside the council's guidelines for rear extensions, i.e. nearly 6 metres bigger than what is normally allowed!!! Therefore, I'm 99% certain that the application will be refused so am tempted to say nothing in the interests of goodwill. However, DH wants to object as, if in the unlikely event permission is granted, we will be stuck staring at a monstrosity! Unfortunately, we cannot object anonymously as all comments are visible online.

I'm really not sure how to handle this without upsetting anyone!

[Ifailed]

Have you tried talking to the planning people directly? They should be able to confirm if they will reject it on their own criteria without any other objections.

[OliviaStabler]

YANBU.

You object and put down valid reasons. Don't engage with them about it directly. If they don't like it, tough.

[flagnogbagnog]

I think you need to object now. If it does go through you will have lost your chance. I have a friend who recently had an extension. All neighbour's were notified and no one objected. Now that the building work is complete one of her neighbours is making her life hell because they hate it. Of course she is not going to tear it down because of all the money spent, but if they'd objected in the first place she may never have had the work done, or would have been open to changing her plans.

[EatsShitAndLeaves]

If it were me I would go and talk to them.

I'd say that I had concerns about the proposal and would they consider changing them? At least you are talking to them and can see there is no malice here, simply that the extension is in your view too large and would impact your amenity in a number of ways.

You never know, this might me enough for them to re-think their plans. If not, they know you plan to object, but you have been courteous in speaking to them first.

[MadisonAvenue]

Object. That sounds like a huge extension and what if it is allowed? There's nothing you can do then.

[LIZS]

That does sound large. There are specific grounds on which to object successfully. Have a look at the planning portal to see which might be relevant.

[Trifleorbust]

I would object. You are perfectly entitled to do so. They weren't thinking about you when they entered their application, so I can't see why you are so worried about expressing your views on their plans.

[Wolpertinger]

You speak to them and ask about it. Then say obviously you are going to object as you think it will affect the views from your house or whatever proper planning objection you can think of and leave it there.

Lots of people object to neighbours works just routinely. I get on well with one of my neighbours but she delights in telling me that if ever I wanted x or y done which I don't she would object on principle. It's why there are rules for the planners to decide on.

Either it's turned down or it goes ahead. Obvs if it goes ahead, you are within your rights to have an extension on yours so you can't see it either.

[Chewbecca]

I would politely object, no drama or emotive language, just relevant facts.

By the way, our council's planning portal (public access) says all comments are public but the functionality doesn't work and comments don't actually show. They're still available of course, but it is much harder to see them so a casual browser will not!

[GabsAlot]

if its over the guidlines woldnt it be rejected anyway

just object if u feel strongly about it

[WLF46]

You should object if you're not happy. If it's against the planning rules they will probably be turned down anyway, but if nobody raises an objection it's more likely to slip through.

You need to ask yourself, which of the following situations do you prefer:
a) Objecting to the council and having a frosty relationship with the neighbour?
b) Saying nothing and having to put up with their plans being constructed?

You will obviously prefer the hidden third option (say nothing and hope that it gets rejected anyway), but that's not within your power. (Of course there is also a fourth option, raise the objection and wreck the relationship with the neighbours but find the council accept the plans anyway.)

[lola111]

when you say '6 m bigger than what is normally allowed' what do you mean by normally allowed? What neighbours have built, permitted development? What?

[lola111]

whether you object or not, will not make any difference.After many years of abuse, planners are really hot on transparency of process now and have guidelines to follow

[YoHoHoandabottleofTequila]

What do you mean by what is normally allowed? We could have gone out to 4m without any permission at all.

[hyperhypermum]

Lola - guidelines state no more than 3.6 m out from original house. They already have a 3.6m extension, as do most of the neighbours, but want to add another 6 metres to It, making a total extension depth of 9.6 metres! I'm actually stunned they found an architect willing to produce such a plan. We've had an extension ourselves and our architect was very clear on what was likely to be acceptable, he wouldn't entertain some of our original ideas and they were nothing like as outlandish as these!

[YoungGirlGrowingOld]

We just objected to our neighbour's planning permission to build 4 detached properties next to our boundary fence. We did not discuss it with them in advance. (We then applied for pp ourselves and they supported it - they are either being tactical or nicer than we probably deserve!) If it will blight your property then I think you should object - it may not affect the outcome anyway.

And like a pp our comments are supposed to be visible but are not available online.

[TheNaze73]

I think I'm right in saying that under permitted development rights, they take it on the footprint of the original dwelling so personal think they have a cat in hell's chance of getting it through. Speak to one of the officers at your local council development management department & they'll give you a steer. I see your dilemma about wanting to avoid being a named objector

[YoHoHoandabottleofTequila]

Total extension of 9 meters? That's crazy, will they have any garden left?

[eurochick]

Permitted development is what is allowed without pp. they want something bigger so are seeking pp. It doesn't mean they won't get it just because it is not permitted development!

[backinthebox]

Having been the person who had their neighbour object to PP, I can tell you this: The Planning Department will not grant you PP for an extension that is bigger than planning guidelines permit. So if PP is granted then the extension is perfectly acceptable in planning terms. If the planning is likely to go through because it is within guidelines and you object, your neighbour will think you are a dick forever (well, my neighbour was a dick when he objected and is still one now.) If planning is not likely to go through, there is not much point in objecting.

Our planning went through without a hitch, btw. Even though my neighbour reckoned that my little house becoming a slightly less little house within 300 m of his tudor mansion would spoil the splendid isolation of his home .

[Evalina]

The key is in the word 'guidelines', which means that the council can decide not to apply them. If you don't object the council will logically presume that you are fine with it, and could therefore decide to approve it.

Plenty of planning applications that do not meet the guidelines are getting planning permission these days - so you really should object if you would not like the end result.

[MrsSippy]

You should see the fucking abomination my NDN have built - we objected very strongly all the way but it still got built.

[228agreenend]

Definitely object. Otherwise by default you have accepted the plans.

[Witchend]

Are you sure that's actual guidelines? I think that's the maximum you can extend to a single floor without planning permission, rather than them not advising more.
if we extended that far we'd be into the house behind's conservatory

[HummusForBreakfast]

I would object. You are the ones who will be really affected by it. What if the council doesnt quite get it and say yes despite their guidelines??