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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this would need planning permission?

28 replies

justlliloleme · 29/07/2020 15:32

Neighbour behind appears to be good a woodwork & is often found sawing & drilling away. This isn’t a huge problem & doesn’t often bother us.

However we noticed they have recently covered a large part of their garden with a cement base - it’s probably just over half the garden. Hubby popped his head over the fence & workman said they were only laying the concrete but he thinks he is building a workshop.
Roll forward 3 months & this has appeared.

AIBU to think this would need planning permission?

What do I do? I’m worried they’ll be mire sawing & drilling going on once it’s built & it might even be a small commercial operation.

What do I do?

To think this would need planning permission?
To think this would need planning permission?
OP posts:
Original poster
justlliloleme · 29/07/2020 15:34

Photo

OP posts:
Original poster
justlliloleme · 29/07/2020 15:35

Sorry, I’m new to this - still trying to attach photos 🤦🏻‍♀️

To think this would need planning permission?
To think this would need planning permission?
OP posts:
GladAllOver · 29/07/2020 15:39

Is it just a workshop, or extra living accommodation? That would certainly need planning permission and building control.

Norma27 · 29/07/2020 15:43

It is similar to what my neighbours have done. They are building a 'storage shed'. It is actually a fucking dwelling.
The planning department are shit and we believe corrupt. Neighbours told someone else they gave someone in planning who sorts things out for them.
The same neighbours built a 'conservatory' a few years ago. A massive extension in reality which comes up to bedroom windows and is up to our boundary. Can't even put the fence back in.
Council finally gave them retrospective permission for that. Absolutely diabolical
I have messaged planning telling them I will also build a separate dwelling in my garden. They sent me the permitted development rules. I said I will do what they allow my neighbours to do.

Norma27 · 29/07/2020 15:45

The 'conservatory' didn't have a single pane of glass until they had to put a window in for our light!

Charleyhorses · 29/07/2020 15:47

You can google permitted development. Does it breach any of that?

Hathaways · 29/07/2020 15:51

Outbuildings have certain rules depending on size and few other things, some of which require planning permission and others that don’t.

Your local planning office will be able to advise you if you call them they are very helpful I talk to them for work and they will put your mind at ease. However they may try to dig for info from you as to the location etc if they feel they want to investigate it so keep this in mind if you do decide to call.

You have a few other options, you could sit on it for now and see if the noise from the new building does cause you issues and then contact the office.
You could speak to the neighbours and see what they intent to use it for it may just be extra storage or something and then make your decision if you wanted to speak to planning office.
How well do you get on with the neighbours?

Norma27 · 29/07/2020 15:53

The problem is they may be excellent liars like my neighbours. I have found planning to be absolutely awful. If people just breach the rules they get away with it eventually.

Russell19 · 29/07/2020 15:55

Which part are we looking at? The wood?

NewtonPulsifer · 29/07/2020 15:59

I’m sure they are thrilled at a trampoline being placed so near the fence that they have no privacy in their garden. It looks like a low fence to start with. Why not place it near the tree to maintain privacy?

But yes, looks like it needs permission due to its height.

RonnieBob · 29/07/2020 16:16

Neighbours behind us built a massive wooden shed right up to their fence with a quite tall roof. It definitely breached planning laws but ultimately it gave us more privacy since they couldn’t see into our garden any more so it was a win for us.

Bitchinkitchen · 29/07/2020 16:19

Round us you can add up to 8m (4m height) onto an existing building without needing planning permission. So no, doesn't look like they'd need it for this.

Seeline · 29/07/2020 16:26

interactive.planningportal.co.uk/mini-guide/outbuildings/0

This is the general guide, although there can be additional restrictions in certain areas.

You can generally build quite large structures in your garden, but best thing is to report it to the planning enforcement team and get them to have a look.

iswhois · 29/07/2020 16:36

If it's over 2.5 metres then yes they need permission as it's so close to your fence.

I am a planning officer. I would notify local council. There are lots of properties around they need not know it was you!

Original poster
justlliloleme · 29/07/2020 19:11

@Russell19

Which part are we looking at? The wood?
Yes sorry the wood
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Original poster
justlliloleme · 29/07/2020 19:17

That’s great to know @iswhois
I’ve been in touch with the council, I think they’ve likely gone over the permissible development %. I’ll just wait & see what they come back with.

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Original poster
justlliloleme · 29/07/2020 19:19

@NewtonPulsifer

I’m sure they are thrilled at a trampoline being placed so near the fence that they have no privacy in their garden. It looks like a low fence to start with. Why not place it near the tree to maintain privacy?

But yes, looks like it needs permission due to its height.

The trampoline isn’t being used, it is usually over near the tree. They don’t use the conservatory anyway, it’s full of wood!
OP posts:
DDiva · 29/07/2020 19:22

That does look like a substantial building. You cant assume noise and business activity at this stage tho you have no idea how itll be used or how often.

MidnightCitrus · 29/07/2020 19:22

i cant work out what is going on?

Original poster
justlliloleme · 29/07/2020 19:49

Another photo for those who I confused with the first ones 😘

To think this would need planning permission?
OP posts:
MidnightCitrus · 29/07/2020 20:16

oh thats much clearer!

OnlyaMummy · 29/07/2020 20:23

I do believe it is likely to be a breach of planning permission due to the size. Permitted development states that the build cannot be more than 50% of the curtilage or any higher than 2.5 meters from the ground level. Call your local planning department and try to get hold of the planning enforcement team. I work for an architectural designers office and deal with this regularly.

Original poster
justlliloleme · 29/07/2020 20:27

@OnlyaMummy

I do believe it is likely to be a breach of planning permission due to the size. Permitted development states that the build cannot be more than 50% of the curtilage or any higher than 2.5 meters from the ground level. Call your local planning department and try to get hold of the planning enforcement team. I work for an architectural designers office and deal with this regularly.
Thanks for this. I’ve just been out with a tape measure & I think it’s about 2m from the ground in our garden to the highest point - although their garden is lower down than ours. Our LA has a portal for contacting them so I’ve registered my concerns with them.
OP posts:
LIZS · 29/07/2020 20:28

I think it is 2.3m max height. The conservatory will be part of any permitted development calculation. Are they actually building a shed though or is it a pergola?

Original poster
justlliloleme · 29/07/2020 21:48

I think it’s a shed/ workshop - that’s what we were told by the guys laying the concrete

OP posts: