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Original poster

Do I just suck this up? Building costs

36 replies

norma1980 · 01/10/2023 13:41

Hi

2 brothers applied for planning permission for 2 houses on same site next door to each other.

Each house was to be built by each brother as their home.

Permission for both houses needs to implemented very soon or it will expire and may not be granted again so needs to be implemented.

We're going to implement and satisfy pre commencement conditions now so don't lose permission.

It's costing us £5k to do this - minimum works being carried out.

Our works implement the permission for bother houses so we're also saving the brothers house from expiring.

He's not paying a penny.

Difficult because builder will only be pouring the corners of the garage for our house (that's all we're doing to implement permission) so it's on our site but basically implementing brothers house.

I'm pissed off. Not sure house else to work it. He's intending to build out so he is benefitting as well.

I just know if it was him spending £5k he'd ask for a contribution and make a big scene he has before.

My husband is scared of brother and won't raise it.

I'm not well off this £5k is coming from savings.

Do I just need to suck this up - that it's fair brother not contributing despite benefitting from our works? Any other way we can do this please?

OP posts:
greenacrylicpaint · 01/10/2023 13:45

so you poured the foundation for the whole duplex? and then start building on your side only?

you really want to be neighbours with a flaky person like that who your husband walks on eggshells on?

anqldbjo · 01/10/2023 13:47

Not sure if I'm understanding this correctly, is it that you are doing work on your house so the planning permission doesn't expire. By you doing this it happens to stop the other house also expiring, but there isn't any work being done there?

smallshinybutton · 01/10/2023 13:48

Can you sell on your plot?

Original poster
norma1980 · 01/10/2023 13:53

Hi @anqldbjo - yes

1 planning permission granted allowing 2 houses.

Been advised that in order to ensure permission stays live and doesn't expire we need to do some site clearance and pour 4 corners of garage with some concrete only. This will be enough. No other building works being carried out on site and not intending to build house out just implement.

Just curious as to whether there was another way could've done this.

OP posts:
Original poster
norma1980 · 01/10/2023 13:53

@smallshinybutton - husband won't sell plot.

OP posts:
anqldbjo · 01/10/2023 13:55

norma1980 · 01/10/2023 13:53

Hi @anqldbjo - yes

1 planning permission granted allowing 2 houses.

Been advised that in order to ensure permission stays live and doesn't expire we need to do some site clearance and pour 4 corners of garage with some concrete only. This will be enough. No other building works being carried out on site and not intending to build house out just implement.

Just curious as to whether there was another way could've done this.

Are you intending to build the house at some point?

Original poster
norma1980 · 01/10/2023 13:57

Hi @anqldbjo - no I'm not intending to build our house out. Brother is intending to build his whole house out and live there.

We could've waited to see if they started commencement works first (and we would've offered half) but didn't want to risk losing permission so we've just got on with it. Brother knows and has been consulted.

OP posts:
SkankingWombat · 01/10/2023 14:32

This is all very confusing. So 2 brothers have bought adjacent plots so they can live next to one another, only now just 1 wants to build. However, the one who wants to build isn't willing to start in time to prevent the planning expiring, and the one who now isn't going to build any more doesn't want planning to expire, so is going to start pouring the foundations that they don't really have the money for (according to them - I would have thought it's very normal to pay for large scale building works from savings?).
The whole thing sounds bonkers, but if the £5k is paying for foundations that are solely on your plot, I don't think it's reasonable to expect the other sibling to pay towards them, no. This doesn't sound like the best of relationships between the brothers, given their inability to communicate - I would pay your £5k to start works and secure the planning, then sell the plot.

FlippityFlippityFlop · 01/10/2023 14:32

But - you are only paying for the works on your house. I don't get why you would expect them to pay half.

LIZS · 01/10/2023 14:35

If you don't intend to build why does it bother you if the pp lapses?

LittleBearPad · 01/10/2023 14:36

So are you never intending to build your house?

If not then let the permission lapse. Not your problem.

If you are one day planning to build the work is on in your interest.

AgentProvocateur · 01/10/2023 14:43

So you’ve had pp for 5 years and Don’t intend to build? Are you planning to sell the plot with pp? If not, just let it lapse.

smallshinybutton · 01/10/2023 14:51

norma1980 · 01/10/2023 13:53

@smallshinybutton - husband won't sell plot.

Leave it to husband to deal with then

Sparehair · 01/10/2023 14:55

This sounds like a nightmare. Is this a case of the brothers jointly inheriting the plot which is why you went for joint planning permission ? If so I would let the pp lapse and then legally split the plot so that they own half each rather than jointly owning all of it. Otherwise if you don’t intend to build yours up it’s basically worthless.

inloveandmarried · 01/10/2023 14:57

I completely understand your frustration.

You both applied for planning as a whole (both sites) and it was granted.

It's about to lapse which means you will then have to reapply unless you are seen to be starting works.

At this point the permission is indefinite as I understand.

Your frustration is that you've had to fund the starting of works to secure planning doesn't lapse. The other brother hasn't bothered and would have let it lapse.

You have inadvertently have benefited the brother who now has open ended planning on his portion of the plot.

I think although this could have been done differently, but you haven't actually paid out any more that you'd have to anyway. It's just the timing has forced you to pay out sooner.

As you are only laying partial concrete foundations on your side he's not getting more from you than extended permission.

I think, although it's annoying when someone should step up, in this case he's inadvertently benefitted.

You'd need to do this work to secure your planning anyway and it's a cost you'll not have to pay out for again. Whereas he'll also have to pay to have foundations laid when his time comes.

The reality is you've saved him having to take this back to planning. I hope he'll be at least saying thank you!

WithManyTot · 01/10/2023 14:59

By making a start you are preserving your own planning permission. By pouring your corners, you are making £5K of progress against the eventual final build cost of the house. Your brother is making no progress on his build by you laying corners.

You could ask your brother to pour his pads too, but he doesn't have to. You could let PP expire and re-apply for just one house, if you fancy the risk.

I'd just suck it up, pour your pads and sleep easy....

fridaynight1 · 01/10/2023 15:02

If you aren’t ever planning on building a house on the plot, why are you putting foundations in?
Seems a great way of throwing good money at nothing.
Keep it in the bank.

anqldbjo · 01/10/2023 15:08

norma1980 · 01/10/2023 13:57

Hi @anqldbjo - no I'm not intending to build our house out. Brother is intending to build his whole house out and live there.

We could've waited to see if they started commencement works first (and we would've offered half) but didn't want to risk losing permission so we've just got on with it. Brother knows and has been consulted.

So why are you bothered if the permission expires if you're not intending to build? Seems stupid to pay for something you don't intend to use.

Hufflepods · 01/10/2023 15:11

I honestly don’t get your reasoning. If you don’t plan to build why does it matter if the planning permission lapses? Why start work on the ground to continue the planning when you don’t need it?
You can just apply for the lapsed planning when you need it.

The brother who wants to build can either start doing it before his planning permission has expired or deal with the consequences.

If two people bought two separate plots and applied for planning they shouldn’t be linked in any way.

smartiesnskittles · 01/10/2023 16:54

Just let planning permission expire.

GabriellaMontez · 01/10/2023 16:57

If you're not planning to build or sell, what are you planning?

Original poster
norma1980 · 01/10/2023 17:41

The value of the land will go up by £40k with planning permission implemented on land. Its for kids inheritance. Though if I died tomorrow I think my husband would built the house.

It's a house in countryside so very difficult to get permission for a house in countryside so if let permission expire unlikely get permission for house on same site and value of land will decrease

OP posts:
LIZS · 01/10/2023 17:44

But it is only worth the extra if you can sell it. If both dwellings are planned for a single plot and you do not get along with the co-owner, how likely is it you can split it to sell. If pp was granted once, it is unlikely it would not be again, even on greenbelt under current planning policy.

Hufflepods · 01/10/2023 17:45

It’s incredibly unlikely that planning permission would be refused for the exact same proposal which has already been approved.

Original poster
norma1980 · 01/10/2023 17:47

Hi thanks everyone for making it make sense -

yes it's true that the £5k would go off the build should the house ever be built out.

I'll just suck it up - I have to. Land is for kids.

The brother was very unfair on another matter so I'm not keen on him hence i don't want to live next door.

We relied on an exception under planning policy to get permission and wouldn't be granted permission again as exception doesn't exist now.

Thanks everyone appreciate it can sleep easier

OP posts: