Complaint after planning permission granted and building work done

[ZuzuandZara]

Hi all, I'm looking for some advice please.

We've been granted planning permission for a large building at the bottom of our garden to run a business from. Permission granted, building up and business going well - so far so good!

Our neighbours who we are friendly with think 'it looks very big'. I agree, it does.

We've had a complaint come via the council who are now coming out to inspect the building. Nothing specific just that someone thinks we have deviated from our plans.

I'm really stressed. I got the letter on Sat and spoke to the enforcement officer this morning but we couldn't make a time until Fri so I've got all week to fret.

The building is a couple of feet shorter than we had permission for and a couple of inches higher. I can't think of anything else that isn't exactly as it should be.

Will the council moan about a couple of inches? I assume the complaint has come from the neighbours.

De-stress me please.

[PigletJohn]

It will be measured from ground level. You might consider adding "a couple of inches" of soil or paving round it.

I wonder if some trellis and plants would shield it, and perhaps dull masonry paint to blend in.

[ZuzuandZara]

Piglet, thanks. What is ground level? The building in on a concrete hard standing that was put on top of the ground, not dug in flush with the surrounding ground iyswim. So would ground level be considered the base of the building or the base of the concrete pad? We were advised (by the 'friendly' neighbour who used to be a builder) that it would be the base of the building.

It's a wooden building that is surrounded by woodland so it blends it pretty well but it is big - no denying that! However our garden is big and it's at the bottom.

We have planted a bamboo screening between us and the neighbours, we agreed that with them and it became a condition of the planning permission.

[PigletJohn]

From your description it sounds like it will be the hard standing. If you want you could put paving slabs down prior to the inspection.

There may be disagreements over the "couple of inches" It might be insignificant. Have you actually measured it? I expect the inspector will, so he is dealing with facts not opinions.

[ZuzuandZara]

We have measured it, and from memory it's a couple of inches. I'm going to do a more accurate measure with DH when he's home later. The hard standing is a good 4" I think (again, I'll go measure more accurately later). Is there a set rule whether the height comes from the base of the building or the surrounding ground level do you know?

Thanks for your advice.