Hello
I suffer from anxiety and this is particularly related to a fear of upsetting other people.
DH and I are planning a single story extension to the side and rear of our property. It falls onto permitted development.
We have neighbours to the side of where we would like to extend. We are both end terrace properties with about 3 metres to the side of each house. Our front doors currently are situated on the side of the house. Our neighbours mainly use their back door which is further down the side of the house.
They like to park their car up the side near the back of the house. This has caused damage to paving slabs down our side of the boundary as occasionally they drive over them.
Most of the time we get in very well. We have never complained to them about anything despite the damage to our paving slabs.
We both used to have 2 dogs. They used to complain a lot about the dogs barking (it was both theirs and ours). We now only have one dog and it's mostly their dogs that bark now.
We have always tried to be conscientious and considerate neighbours. We told them we were applying for planning permission. We got the impression they were not very happy although they never said anything outright.
Today I stupidly looked online at the planning info and saw a lengthy objection from them. Saying it would reduce their light (the only window it overlooks is a small frosted window). There'll be noise and it will disrupt their dogs, they'll feel enclosed among other things.
Before we told them our plans they said they were considering building a wall along the boundary.
We really need this space for our family and can't afford to move.
Any confrontation causes high levels of anxiety for me and having read their objections I'm nearly in tears. At no point have they come and spoken to us about any concerns they have.
As it's permitted development I think the place will be approved. But I'm already feeling anxious about what will happen when we start to extend.
I feel like an awful person for upsetting them but if we don't extend it will negatively impact on our family.
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Feeling very anxious other neighbours reaction to our extension plans
34 replies
AgathaQuiztee · 09/10/2020 19:49
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