AIBU trying to improve my house!?

[Snoringlittlemonkey]

I've posted in property about planning permission issue before but it's taken a different turn.

We need more space in our house to accommodate growing family. Put in a planning application with specialist company that do loft conversions and we are now going through the process.

In a nutshell we want to do what next door neighbour has already done.

We live in a detached property so no impact on neighbours or party wall agreements. All building work will be within our own boundary and not up against the fence or anything like that.

Went round to all neighbours to explain situation before application went in so it didn't come as a surprise.

Anyway said neighbour (one who has already done the same thing!) has reacted very badly and has mounted a campaign against us. Basically going round bullying others to put in complaints. People on our road are happy and haven't complained, they have been supportive. It's the ones in adjacent roads they have got to write complaints. Also Parish Council has jumped on to their side without talking to us at all.

What has annoyed me is they have been going round calling our plan all lies and whipping up anger when actually we are doing exactly what two houses in close proximity have already done!!

I'm expecting in the autumn and this is really is stressful. Feel's like a very personal attack. We have tried to be nice neighbours but won't be bullied. It's sad that it's gone sour.

Said neighbour was a bit funny from the start and does have a reputation for stirring up trouble according to others so I probably shouldn't be surprised but it's the hypocrisy that I'm finding hard to deal with.

Has anyone experienced this and got any advice?

[Snoringlittlemonkey]

Thanks lee

Can't really go into objections as it will be identifiable. But we've looked into each one and only one has merit which can be easily overcome by removing a window which we are happy to do. All others are a bit silly in the words of our contractor, if we get planning permission I'll come back and post them because some really are a bit crazy I kid you not!

Not sure how they have the nerve to be so hypocritical to be honest. It beggars belief.

Anyway like you say just trying to focus on the end result.

And if that doesn't work, I can always paint our house in red and white stripes...

[leelu66]

Sounds like they like feeling superior to you and it is sour grapes.

Just keep calm and think of the finished result It will be worth it. Then you need never speak to these people again.

What is the next door neighbour's objection? Or is it potentially identifying?

How can he possibly argue against something he has had done himself?

I would imagine it's hard for the planning officers to refuse your application if your neighbour's similar extension was approved.

Can you get your local MP or councillor on side?

[Snoringlittlemonkey]

No real update just need a MN huddle

I'm getting stressed about all this now. There has been a delay in getting the planning officer out to visit the site so we've been in limbo for a few weeks now. We're more than happy to make compromises we just don't have anything to go on yet. The waiting is horrible. I'm hormonal and getting more pregnant by the minute!!!

Our next door neighbour has stirred up a campaign against us and their insisting the planning officer goes round to see them. He doesn't have to but he is going to before he sees us. He's told our contractor that he's not going to get in the middle of a neighbour argument. Our contractor has reassured him we are nice and are just interested in his feedback not anything else.

It's going to go to committee now so our plan is to revise the drawings in line with his recommendations and hopefully get his support to take it to committee.

I'm stressed and angry mainly because our neighbours are being so hypocritical about the whole thing. They've already done the same thing and their roof towers above ours!! The other neighbours who have objected have all done building work in the last 2 years!!

Is there anyone out there who can talk me down

[Oldraver]

sifting out the sour grapes

Sounds like they have the measure of your neighbours, stressfull though it is.

[Snoringlittlemonkey]

Poverty I'm sure they'd wave any smoke free zone issues just to burn me at the stake! The hypocrisy knows no bounds

I don't think next door is the councillor tbh. I'm sure they would have taken great delight in telling us that!

[Bohemond]

Someone mentioned upthread to speak to your County Councillor. It is actually the Councillor from the Planning Authority - usually District or Borough Councillor(s) that you need. Explain to them about the rallying around, ask them to support your plans and to explain that they do to the planning officer. This is all assuming that your Councillor is not your neighbour of course.

But do not worry - they will all have seen all of this before and can see right through it.

[eddielizzard]

ime planners are used to this sort of thing. they'll only take into account valid reasons for objecting. you should be fine. the people who look bad in all this are your neighbours and all their hysteria and shouty nonsense will forever be on the council website for all to see.

your policy is absolutely right - smile and ignore.

[PovertyPain]

with cries of 'burn the witch!'

Depends if you live in a smoke free zone.

[Snoringlittlemonkey]

Thanks everyone. Reading your experiences really helps and makes me feel less like we're on our own

I'll have to come back for a MN cyber huddle when they pull their next stunt. I'm expecting pitch forks and torches at the front door, with cries of 'burn the witch!'

[Pseudo341]

We've just got planing permission for a big extension, will double the size of our house pretty much, and I was worrying about getting turned down but it doesn't happen like that. It doesn't matter whether or not the parish council like your plans, there are very set rules about planning permission and so long as you're working within them you'll be fine. They can't just refuse you, they have to refuse you because you're in breach of this exact rule in this exact way iyswim. Since your architect's confident you're not you'll get planning.

Try to ignore the neighbours. I find it helps to persuade yourself to feel sorry for people like that. Someone who gets that het up over something so pointless can't possibly be happy and deserves pity. Then you can feel nicely smug and superior. It cheers me up no end.

[PovertyPain]

Don't worry OP, my next door neighbour threw her toys out of the pram when she discovered we were building an extension. Complained to the planning office and building control. Told them we were planning a two story extension, it was a single story. When that got her no where, she had the cheek to send a letter dreaming than we put up, at our expense, a fence on top of the six foot, shared wall, so she couldn't see the extension. When I refused, she then reported that we put up a beautiful two sided fence between us and her parents, on the other side, which her parents were delighted with. Her parents would have been seriously pissed if they knew. It was temper tantrum, after temper tantrum. The planning people thought she was a prick, as one of the over worked staff told me.

Just because someone doesn't like something, doesn't mean the planning office will pay any heed to them. Enjoy your home and take comfort from the fact that most of your neighbours seem to support you. Those that don't will be pisssed of at the trouble maker for bulkshitting them, when they see the extension up, and you'll have a beautiful home to enjoy with your family.

[IsItMeOr]

I can sympathise, although from having been on the other end of this. We objected to something neighbours wanted to do, and the neighbour took it very badly. We objected on planning grounds, rather than emotional, and followed the process.

It is super stressful though. I wish I had words of advice, but other than the sensible approach you are already taking, I'm not sure there is much more you can do.

[skankingpiglet]

Ah yes Snoring, but if your house is the same (with the work being newer and 'shinier') then their house wouldn't be better than yours... Maybe there is a bit of that at play? Some neighbours are very competitive. Our attached neighbours are lovely but they are always copying us if we make an improvement (we smile to ourselves and count it as a compliment though rather than get arsey about it with other villagers). Most recently they've also replaced their car they didn't realise ours was replaced as DH wrote the previous one off, rather than wanting something newer/better, and done some very similar improvements to their garden.

[BeckyMcDonald]

Our extension got planning despite objections from the town council and neighbours. They were legitimate objections, albeit very minor, but the planning officers (it was a delegated decision) gave us permission anyway.

I wouldn't worry too much. Once the process is over it will seem like a distant memory and we get on fine with the objectors now. One of them is even doing our brickwork for us.

[Bobbycatz]

I have lots of experience with planners, they are used to dealing with objections/neighbours etc, try not to worry about it. Planners know how to identify genuine objections from the ones which just don't like development. I would just stay quite and try to rise above it all. With regard to the PC remember again they are not planners and are elected officials so have a different agenda. Good luck, you can always call your planning officer and ask for an update.

[Snoringlittlemonkey]

Diva I said to troublesome neighbour when I first spoke to them that we were really impressed with what they had done and were looking to do the same (not exactly the same but along similar lines). Irony seems to have been lost on them

[Snoringlittlemonkey]

All the objections are online and they are the talk of the neighbourhood, with some people quoting them to my husband in a jokey rolling eyes tone. I've told him don't respond don't comment. I always go by the adage 'if they do it with you they'll do it to you' so don't get dragged in to being catty as it can get taken out of context and twisted to stir things up.

Planning officer did say something about sifting out sour grapes but architect was talking about a lot of things so didn't really pin that down. I'm hoping as you say he spots this NIMBYism a mile away and just focuses on any real issues.

We are going in with the attitude that we will compromise with the planners if they ask us to so we are reasonable. But we need to wait until they have a chance to sift through everything and make their comments.

[Divathecat]

I would probably send everyone a cheery letter, copy of plans. Say that you love what they have done to their homes so much that you are doing the same, will keep disruption to the minimum and walk around looking happy, smile and greet neighbours evens the misery twats!

[Poppledopple]

We have been through this. All neighbours spoke with us when we approached re plans. One refused to - then whipped up all the other neighbours and they got together and paid for an extensive and expensive planning report - where they took loads of photos of my garden thru our hedge. Got really personal - asking why we needed 6 bedrooms (we have 4 teens and elderly parent to accommodate) - asked from the family with 5 beds and 1 child. But it is the planners who hold the power - so you need to work within their rules and try to ignore the nonsense. Just push thru and focus and reapply if needed. BUT it does hurt and irrevocably damages neighbourhood harmony. Shows people in their true light. Same neighbour then demanded we cut down our high hedge - until I pointed out to the planners that dhe couldnt see our hedge as her intervening trees were higher -- guess what she did then - cut down her own trees!!! But 3 years later she puts in to extend her 5 bed 3 storey house by 50% with an indoor pool - I had great pleasure resreaching and the objecting to that in planning terms not personal. Good luck.

[skankingpiglet]

The planning department will be very used to neighbours with a NIMBY attitude, and will look at your plans on their own merit as well as looking at complaints to see if they're valid. As others have said, the fact your neighbour already has similar will help your case. Easier said than done but try not to worry, although it's tough with an impending immovable deadline (I'm in the same boat, 31wks pg and extension has just begun. I'm beginning to panic).

Are you sure about not needing any kind of party wall? Just being detached doesn't mean you don't need one, it depends how far away from you they are. Our extension is away from the boundary but we still needed one. If you do need it you may find that part a bit drawn out as it doesn't sound like your neighbours would happily sign it so would have to go the long route to obtain one.

[Snoringlittlemonkey]

Thanks sugar. To me it feels like pack mentality to bully us rather than based on real facts.

Another irony is that all those that have complained have done building work recently!!

Our lovely neighbours have said that it's like a form of bullying and they've done it before to others. We've just smiled and said nothing when people have made these comments as we don't want to get into conflict or make things worse.

My DH is so determined to build now though he doesn't care what it is!!

[blankmind]

Planning Committees are used to going through objections and sorting out which ones may be valid on planning regulations and laws and which are basically 'I don't like it' which they can throw out or ignore. Are all objections and comments visible online? That may make some people think twice when they realise how public an objection is. and how stupid they look by objecting on such spurious grounds
People with nothing going on in their lives can spend the time to make mischief for others, just ignore them, the planners are very used to this sort of thing.

Has anyone yet involved their County Councillor? If not, nab him/her and see if s/he can put a word in for you, showing her/him the similarities of your application with the one your neighbour has already had approved and completed.

Go through the PC comments and challenge the ones that are wrong, give the document to your CC with a copy for the planners.

[Spudlet]

Remember people can only object on planning grounds - so that would be things like you suddenly overlooking them, the amount of light another house gets being reduced, traffic being affected etc. 'I don't like the sound of it' is not a valid objection.

www.richmond.gov.uk/what_is_a_valid_objection_to_a_planning_application

[SugarPlumTree]

I've seen planning approve some round here that the parish council objected to . Been reading about it all recently and they have a certain criteria to take into account, so the one 100 metres from you won't hold any weight as that's nothing to do with any material facts and my neighbour 100 metres away doesn't have a right to a view.

You've done everything right and the sad fact is some people are just difficult. We're trying to look at the objection as a source of entertainment as it's quite funny showing people where the house is and seeing their reaction which without fail has been quite comical. Hope it goes well for you

[Snoringlittlemonkey]

No listed status on our property at all. It's a 50's bungalow.