Concern about proposed bikeshed

[zm123]

Hello,
I live in a 3-storey building and my flat overlooks the back garden: it is west-facing so is hot in summer: the Owner's Association want to build a bikeshed more or less right below this flat - it would reduce the value of my flat, besides making it hot, and they will remove a small shrub area to install it (where I have seen hedgehogs dwell which, I feel would be sad, in this day and age) - any ideas on me stopping this, protesting against it?

I would think that safe bike storage can be be an added bonus should you wish to sell in the future. Is there somewhere else it can go that's less intrusive?

Thank you for your reply.

I have elected not to have a space in the shed, as I don't cycle, so would you think it would make a difference then to the value of my flat when I want to sell?

There are 29 flats in the block, and many have said they will need more than one space in the shed, which means it's going to be massive.

What rights do I have to protest? It is going to absolutely ruin the area under my flat window.

Sorry but bike storage for flats is a huge plus that's likely to increase value and saleability. You'd be mad not to have a space, even if you won't use it.

However, would it be possible to suggest two smaller sheds in different places to reduce the intrusion below your flat?

You could read your lease carefully to see what rights you may have under that, if any, or as to communal spaces. You could try contacting eg the British Hedgehog Society - www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/developers-1.pdf. You could consider where else the bike shed could go. A huge bike shed may need planning permission although it may also have it, and policies support cycling usually. You could contact the planning department and/or research their policies. Some Councils have on-street secure bike sheds which people can rent, which take up on-street car parking places, which might be an alternative. I’m not sure why it would make your flat more hot but your amenity is relevant to a planning officer assessing if it if planning is required.

I can't see how it would either devalue your flat or make it hot. If anything, it would increase its saleability as there is somewhere safe to store a bike!
Even if you don't have a bike, I'd still bag 💼 One of the spaces.

@zm123

Thank you for your reply.

I have elected not to have a space in the shed, as I don't cycle, so would you think it would make a difference then to the value of my flat when I want to sell?

There are 29 flats in the block, and many have said they will need more than one space in the shed, which means it's going to be massive.

What rights do I have to protest? It is going to absolutely ruin the area under my flat window.

Just because a resident wants more than 1 space, it doesn't mean they'll build more than enough for 1 space per flat.

You should probably have one of the spaces. Will you have to pay for it ? If you sell your flat and its the one without a space you might get asked for a reduction on price. If most of the flats want a bike space or two I think it's very unlikely that they will not put it in just because of a couple of people don't want it. Sorry.