Calling Planners or Planning Experts, please!

[iloveaglassofwine]

Hello,

I've posted this in Chat already and someone suggested I try Legal for advice too. So here I am!

I'm after some words of wisdom.

There's a planning application for a 2 storey dwelling to be built at the bottom of our garden in one of the gardens that we back on to. Because it's an "Outline Planning Application with all matters reserved", the details are very sketchy and all we really know is that it will be built 5 metres from our boundary wall so the bedrooms would really overlook our garden and house.

From the bit of research I've done, I can see that there are only a few valid points that I can object on. So, I am writing a letter to object on the grounds of loss of privacy and also loss of light into the garden.

I've written up a letter and could pm if someone would mind casting an eye over it?

The planning officer who came to measure our garden mentioned something about a minimum of 21 metres window to window, but I didn't really understand what she meant. Can anyone clarify?

Thank you so much. I bloody luffs Mumsnet for this.

[WestieMamma]

Basically planning officers don't decide the criteria, government does. Planning departments and their officers merely implement what the government decides. There's a document which the government produces with the 'rules' in it but it's so long ago that I studied planning that I can't remember what it is called. I seem to recall it covering things such as how far apart overlooking windows have to be, density of development, necessary infrastructure and stuff like that. Ask your planning department. They'll know what I'm talking about and then you'll be able to read it yourself online.

[iloveaglassofwine]

Thanks westie, i'm calling the planning dept today so I Will ask.