Neighbours proposing huge loft conversion

[Alfierabbit]

We live in a semi and our neighbours who we get on well with gave us a heads up on a possible loft conversion. We assumed it would be a modest size like neighbour on other side of us. Now found out its going to be one of those huge box like structures right up to party wall at rwar of house. Probably unable to object. Am I silly to feel upset by this monstrosity being built.

OP are the ones in the photos posted like the ones that your neighbours want to do?

Our neighbours replaced a small dormer which was ugly enough with a huge dormer, we live in bungalows so there is a huge space. They went right up to our party wall, actually a bit over. My husband kicked off, they got their builder to bring it back in.

The woman of the house is a really nasty bit of work, would stand at the window and just stare out at us. Whilst these dormers give you space they really are the ugliest construction from the outside. We ended up building a big gazebo type building onto the whole back of our house which is covered but open. So that in the evening we can sit outside without the old witch watching us.

i don’t blame you being upset. We were… still are really 😂. If it’s any consolation they didn’t get any aircon so the blinds are now down at all times 😂

The two key issues are

• Can it be done under permitted development rights? If not, planning permission would be needed.
• Arranging a party wall agreement as they will be building right up to the boundary with your property. This is totally separate to planning permission, building control etc, and the building work should not start without one.
• Will they need to access your garden eg: for scaffolding. There was a very long thread on here yesterday about the perils of allowing access for scaffolding that might be worth a read!

Your image still shows a dormer, there are multiple different types of them.

Don't allow the fact that you are friendly to allow your neighbours to take advantage. They aren't considering you by doing noisy messy building work, which will compromise your privacy and the look of your house - you aren't obliged to minimise their costs for them by having informal agreements and avoiding a party walk solicitor or by allowing your own garden/drive to become part of their work site.
I would never allow a neighbour to use any part of my property for access or to attach scaffolding to any part of my house, except for essential repair work.

It does seem, though, that the neighbours want to build what is actually a pretty standard loft conversion. The OP may not like it but it's very unlikely that she can object to it, and the neighbours are not doing anything wrong.
I'd expect this type of build to be done without any need to put scaffolding in outside of the garden if the house where it's being built.
A party wall agreement is all that is needed.

That doesn't look particularly fantastic 🤣

Yes, I do agree they have a right to and to some extent neighbours have to accept some noise etc. But there are so many nightmare stories on here of builders using neighbouring gardens for access, causing damage that they won't fix, and generally taking the piss, that I'd be a straight up no to facilitating any work my neighbours wanted to do.
They have the right to do the work but the neighbour has the right not to take any risks with their own property for someone else's benefit.
I think when you are friends with neighbours it's hard to insist on everything being done officially because it's like saying you don't trust them to do right by you, but I think you must insist on proper party wall agreements that they pay for.

I'm not keen on the look but ultimately the majority of these conversions (even the big box ones) are done under permitted development so there are no grounds for objection - they're just allowed to do it.

We're doing a conversion next year without the full dormer but because I want a couple of windows at the front on the north facing side of the house to keep the temperature down, we're having to go through full planning. It is what it is.

There’s one of these in the next road to ours, from the loft window the occupants are able to see into at least 10 gardens, their immediate neighbours complained and objected as it did cut out a lot of natural daylight, but it was passed.

I've got a loft conversion although admittedly not a dormer one. There were other significant building works on the house and I have to say, the loft was the least invasive, largely because of the scaffolding outside and the actual work being contained in the loft. I'd prepared for chaos but it didn't happen. Maybe a bit dustier for a while. I hope it doesn't cause you too much grief.

I'm in london. This is standard here. Don't see the issue.

It doesn't affect your house at all any more than a smaller one would.

The only way not to be affected is to move to a detached house.

Pretty standard round my way, cant say they have ever bothered me & you can’t see them from the front.

Probably more houses on my street have those kind of conversations (including mine) than don't have them. All within permitted development.
In the next borough along from me, there are rows and rows of streets where many of the houses have dormers on the front, too! Thankfully that's not allowed here!

I think the box like extensions are called Hansards. It may be worth googling to get the correct term, and then contacting your town council, who can object if it goes against the town's plans.
Town council do not have the final say, but they can be an ally.
If you object, it will likely cause a rift between you and your neighbours.

For anyone objecting to plans of any sort, please google what is not acceptable.
You can waste your time and opportunity by objecting to things that are allowable. Find the points that are 'objectionable' to have any chance of getting a modification.
'I've got a baby and it will be noisy' is a waste of your time. Too many vans will waste your time. Encroachment, not in keeping and loss of outlook may be considered.
It's different in all areas, but look it up and object rationally and effectively.

If you were ever planning on getting a loft extension yourself, now is the time to do it as it would be cheaper building wise and scaffolding wise to do both at the same time.

Permitted development allows a lot. A 2nd floor will always enable more overlooking but sadly successive governments think the ugly boxes are a good thing.

I don't like them, but I probably will build one too get more space.

They look bloody ugly

It's totally normal especially on the back of the house. The little ones that are still dormers but not the full width look odder to me and more higgledy-piggledy, hardly worth the bother. I don't love a dormer at the front but it sounds like that's not the case here, so nothing really huge about it.

I think it’s mansard.

Not if it's permitted development. I couldn't even object to the fact that next door's fuckwit architect submitted the plans for my address rather than theirs.

Towelmode · Today 14:46
I think it’s mansard.

Absolutely, that's the name I was groping for. Don't know if that's what OP has, though. Thank you.

It’s not a mansard, that’s completely different (they slope). Based on the picture posted previously it’s a full flat roof dormer,