To park my own car anywhere on my own land?

[ProfessionalPirate]

I've got a small driveway at the side/rear of my house for 2 cars, one infront of the other. I'm planning to enlarge my driveway by adopting part of my back garden. This would involve removing a small stone wall and a few trees/shrubs, and replacing the turf with gravel. My neighbour is kicking up a massive fuss as he doesn't want the cars anywhere near the shared boundary. Does anyone know where I stand with this? Am I right in thinking that I have a right to park a car where I want on my own land??

ringle please say, I'm keen to hear all sides! I do see where my neighbour is coming from. He has suggested we build a huge stone wall on the boundary to reduce the impact, but there's no way we could afford it. I've suggested we grow a hedge, but he wasn't impressed with that.

there are no planning reasons why you need to be careful. There will be regulations relating to drainage (you'll need to ensure the surface is either permeable or there is a soaraway) that you must adhere to.

It's highly unlikely that headlights from cars will constitute a nuisance and the noise of a car being parked is not something that is actionable.

Go ahead and just do it.

Please don't remove the trees and the shrubbery.

It looks so sad when everything's paved over.

I can see where the neighbour is coming from, if your car lights will shine into his house. Gravel drives can also be pretty noisy.

If you're in a conservation area, you'll definitely need to talk to your local council - we have to get approval for any change in appearance you can see from the road. Where we are, they'd be especially interested in the trees (if the trunk has a diameter of more than 10 cm 1m above the ground - I've needed to look at the regulations recently). I live in a house less than 40 years old of no particular architectural merit, so you might be surprised what falls within a conservation area!

We won't be removing all the trees chardonnay and we'll be planting about 10x the number we remove this winter elsewhere. We are very lucky to have over 3 acres at the back.

Creating this drive will benefit the village as it means we will be able to get our cars off the narrow lane. Currently we can only park one car as we need to be able to close the gate to keep the dogs/loose ponies in. Second car plus any visitors have to park on the road which isn't ideal.

I can see where the neighbour is coming from, if your car lights will shine into his house. Gravel drives can also be pretty noisy.

I can too, but then is this not all part of village life? This neighbour in question has her own gravel drive right next to her other neighbour's house. Similarly my neighbours on the other side have a gravel drive next to our house. I can hear them as they come in and out, but I didn't think it was that big a deal? Can't expect silence.

If your neighbour wants a huge stone wall built-- tell them to go ahead, you won't object.

Your neighbour sounds like an archetypal nimby. I don't see why your headlights would be an issue unless you are known for leaving them on all the time whilst your car is on your drive, and have a plan to shine them directly in to his house for prolonged periods of time.

Just throw his own arrangements with his other neighbour back at him.

If he wants anything other than a hedge, he can pay for it - if you don't mind a wall.

I’d check it doesn’t need PP, or put in a Certificate of Lawfulness application before you do the works so you have all the legal bits sorted (to show neighbour and for any future buyers). There’ll be more than one planning officer in the Council, they usually have some sort of advice phone line or email or informal inquiry pre-application for process for minor householder enquiries. Check on their website what the process is.

Although this is the relevant bit of the planning portal advice .. (I’d quote you the GPDO but it’s dull and written backwards)

www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/common_projects/44/patio_and_driveway

It’s always best to speak to neighbours before doing works, I’m sure you’d rather that than a planning enforcement officer show up having had their ear bent by your neighbour.

Good luck!

He is being UR. My neighbours parking space is right outside my bedroom window, so his headlights shine directly in when he parks. Nothing I can do.
Except be slightly miffed he got the chance to buy my space as he bought his home a few months earlier than me so I got lumbered with his space which is the opposite end of the road

It is...a SHRUBBERY!

Thanks for all your advice, and thanks for that link littlecaf. Based on that I really don't think I'm doing anything that requires permission, but I will definately check with the PO ASAP. Will try to avoid further discussion with neighbours until I know where I stand!

ShowMe 😄😄😄