Anyone know about permitted developmemts? Should this be allowed and can I object?

[Happymam6710]

I went to work this morning with a private yard. I have come home to neighbours new dormer completely overlooking my house and straight into my yard. I asked the builder and he said we cannot object as they don't need planning permission for this and it is covered under permitted development. I have emailed the council but just wondering if anyone knows whether overlooking and our right to privacy would be enough for this to be taken down.

Also if they applied for permitted developmemts and received certificate of lawfulness would we have been made aware or not?

We received planning permission application but it only spoke of internal loft work and upgrading the dormer at the front of the house. Nothing about the rear facing dormer.

We are in terraced houses and have a tiny back yard but it is private and we get the sun so its my happy place. Im absolutely gutted about this, just wondering if council will be able to do anything?

It only looks like they'll have a small window. It's probably for their stairs.

Could them having obscured/frosted glass help you feel better about it?

I really can’t see what they have done wrong. It’s just a bog standard dormer in a loft

I don't know where you would stand legally but i think you're being unreasonable.
It's not blocking your light or view.
Someone else is just trying to make their property nicer and I'm sure they've better things to do than watch you out their windows.

From the pictures is meets permitted rules based on planning portal info but it would depend on what your local council guidelines are. It won't let me upload the document but Google rear dormer permitted development and it will come up.

It’s really no different to being overlooked by upstairs windows .

I don't think the photos do it justice it's huge and looks directly into our small yard. Surely right to privacy is something I can look at here?

If it’s a rear dormer and not a listed building or in a conservation area then it’ll most likely be permitted development. Neighbours aren’t usually notified about permitted development applications because if the development complies with the PD regs then there is nothing to enforce upon.

If they submitted a lawful development certificate for the rear dormer you may have been notified but again if it falls within PD and you did object there’s nothing that the LA could insist upon because even if it was refused they could still go ahead and do the works anyway.

it is very surprising what people can do without planning permission. As it is most likely a bedroom window it won’t be frequented as much as a living room or kitchen. Sorry, it’s probably not the response you wanted. Maybe look at adding a trellis to the wall with some climbing plants for added privacy.

The only rule on dormers is that they cannot be higher than the original roof line which your pictures closely show it is lower than.

The window void is tiny so hardly compromising your privacy

Rear facing dormers do not require planning. Front facing dormers do require planning.

There isn't a relevant right to privacy here.

This looks like permitted development to me, op

Set inside the original roof
Not raised the ridge height

Sorry, it does look obtrusive xx

Put a trellis up. It’s really not very big. By the time the window frame etc is in it will be smaller.

Dormas like that are the norm where I am, and totally acceptable under permitted development.

Absolutely allowed. Not a thing you can do, OP.

Thanks for the replies. Really appreciate them (well some more than others).

Just such a shame that we don't have a right to privacy and people can just build what they want.

such a shame that we don't have a right to privacy and people can just build what they want

Come on @Happymam6710 you know that isn’t true.

People Cannot just build whatever they want. They can build some, restricted things, without permission if they fall within fairly tight parameters. As they have done here.

and I fail to see how that new window is any different to
the other windows that face you on the neighbouring properties? They are high enough to see in your garden too?

Unfortunately the right to privacy doesn't exist in the context you think it does. Have a google. It only applies in certain circumstances. The window is tiny. Do you honestly think they are going to be glued to the window looking in your yard all day?

We do have a right to privacy and people can't just build what they want. It's just it doesn't apply the way you think in this case unfortunately.

If you have any doubts or concerns the best place to go is your local council.
You will probably have to submit a form and they can tell you for sure if this is OK or not.

We had this situation, but with big glass doors!
We tried to knock many times then left a note politely asking them to consider frosted window covers or similar as it felt we’d have a lack of privacy. It was looking directly into my DC’s room who is SEND. Years later I met them by chance and they accused me of sending an ‘aggressive letter’ which it wasn’t at all. They just kept ignoring us and gave no notice etc, so be warned, approach carefully.
I took the can’t beat them join them approach, got ours done and my DC has that room now.
I remember feeling a bit upset also but think it’s the new norm, half our street have them. And we have two opposite and one a house down. I think it’s because it’s cheaper to do this than move house now.

That’s just not true. We have a right to privacy within certain parameters.

Do you live in a terrace house? If you do, your neighbours on either side can easily look down into your garden. What makes you so fretful about the people behind you seeing into your garden?

Here’s a link to the Planning Portal which has lots of helpful info about permitted development. https://interactive.planningportal.co.uk/mini-guide/loft-conversion/0

Your right to privacy is quite limited especially in a large city- I live in East London the light rail was brought within 4 metres of my kitchen, because of the design of the trains the people on the rain are 3.5 metres away from me-I can recognise individual people on the train and yet that was not considered a good enough reason to have the track further away (which was perfectly possible, but more expensive)- they built a barrier but it has to be transparent otherwise there would be no light in my kitchen at any time of day.
The lack of privacy you suggest is far less serious- complain by all means but I think it's unlikely you will get the development changed.

Please don’t bother the Council with this, dealing with numerous complainants who know something is PD but want to moan anyway means they have much less time to deal with actual and harmful breaches of planning control.

Contact your councils building control dept and follow their advice.