I am SO cross with the local planning department!!

[Cavalierchaos]

I need to vent. I found out from my neighbour that the house behind mine has submitted planning permission for a dormer. I submitted an objection to this because it will directly overlook my yard and kitchen (terraced houses with tiny yards), limiting my privacy and light, but also because the house next to it (also behind mine) has a massive illegally built dormer that the planning dept decided could stay.

A month has passed and I haven't received any reply to my objection. I checked the planning page today and planning permission has been granted for this dormer. I'm absolutely furious that no one responded to my objection, and now I'll have two dormers looming above my property.

AIBU? I'm so upset. The light into my yard is already significantly impacted by the huge illegal dormer that looms over my house (they built it without planning permission, applied for retrospective and was declined, then when I pursued it they said it could stay cos the owner was too difficult!)

I feel so helpless.

I don’t think it’s right that the illegal one was allowed to stay

yanbu

Nothing you can do about the approved dormer. What you can do, as others have suggested, is to check your objection was taken into account by looking at the officer’s report. If it wasn’t you might have grounds for a complaint. It wont reverse the decision though.

With regard to the refused one, make a complaint and if not satisfied you can take it to the local government ombudsman. If it’s bad enough to refuse the council should take action. The council’s website should set out their complaints procedure

There is little point objecting to something you don't like. Your objection will be ignored. You need to find something which goes against planning policy.