Neighbours proposing a business next door

[Boredbumhead]

Planning permission has been sought for a next door neighbour to run a business from their home. It's likely there will be some noise and regular coming and goings and I've made some general comments to planning though not objected. Neighbours now not speaking to me! Not sure if this is a legal or AIBU issue but didn't want to make this post too visible in case they are on Mumsnet.

Did they let you know about their plans before filing for planning permission? If not, they have only themselves to blame. If they’d had a chat with you, you could have given them your comments and then when they filed, you’d have no need to do a formal response.

Most neighbours who don’t tell their neighbours these plans before filing are actually trying to pull a fast one and hope you won’t have time to actually do a response. I think you’re neighbours were like that because they’re not speaking with you now.

Have you had a chat with the neighbours themselves about the plans. We have new next door neighbours and they run a business from home but to be honest it really doesn't impact on us . They have one full time employee but they have lots of parking on their drive so no parking issues. They are lovely people and we have no complaints so far but it really depends on what type of business your neighbour is planning to run.

All you've done is make some comments and they've stopped talking to you. What would happen if you rejected?

They did talk to us initially but the plan has evolved to now include celebrations and music (not amplified) during the day. I wasn't aware of that bit and I've commented about worries about noise disturbance. She obviously has her heart set on this new business and it could all be fine, but I hate the thought of enforced music listening, especially as I'm working from home a lot more with covid. She has children herself and says she will keep it to daytime hrs, but this is not specified in the application.Also were in an SSSI and I mentioned environmental impact too. Am I such a bad person for commenting on my fears? They seem very blinkered and determined. I feel sad about it all.

Love to know what business this is! But you are more than entitled to have your day. You bought a home in a residential area. Music and celebration sounds annoying for a start, of it was a beautician working from home I doubt I’d have any concerns but this sounds different

Music playing all day would annoy me plus if it's a celebration type event I assume there will be lots of clapping and cheering and possibly singing and possibly lots of people attending. Im dying to know now what it is

Unless you are the only neighbour, they will not know you have commented.
Objections are redacted before being published if you took the formal route.

Where is everyone going to park?

Am guessing it’s a nursery - I probably would object to that.
However years ago my mum sought planning permission for a chattery - her garden is over 200ft long and it would have been at the bottom (cats stay in the runs).

Personally I wouldn’t have objected to that - and while next door neighbours were fine - someone about 4 doors along objected and it didn’t happen.

What kind of business are they proposing? I wouldn't be happy with music playing all day.

Well your neighbours are rather silly not to talk to you. If they want a business in a residential area that will have music they should be talking you through the details and addressing any concerns you may have.

Soft play/ play barn type thing I'm guessing?

I assume if you are in a SSSI you are fairly rural and we aren't talking about next door neighbours in a terraced house sense but more a detached house near yours?

I'm not sure how it being a SSSI is relevant unless they are doing major building works that will impact on the environment around them.

@NiceTwin

Unless you are the only neighbour, they will not know you have commented. Objections are redacted before being published if you took the formal route.

Not every council redacts the name/address of comments on planning applications. I'd say more likely to be published than not. OP it's your right to comment on the proposal and they are legitimate concerns. It doesn't necessarily mean they won't get permission but the case officer will consider your concerns and may put restrictions on the new use.

Yeah they published my name :(.
Ok it's a retreat proposal, but will include as well as workshops, celebrations such as weddings christenings etc. With music :(

Our neighbours are running a holiday business with noisy comings and goings including a huge caravan with visitors. There were objections and they denied running any businesses. The Council planning worker rang and told me they were not running a business nor was there a caravan. I asked him to go back and look at photographs from the site and there was the huge mobile home. They had moved it prior to his visit.

He was taking the easy option. It was easier to believe them than do his job. He still insisted there was no business, so I referred him to the Companies House website where there were four businesses listed as active from their house.

They told no neighbours because they are bullies who believe no rules apply to them. I know the businesses will not last because you cannot control who you get as visitors and believe me, they want to micro manage.

Don't let your ndn's get huffy with you about objecting. Their needs and wishes do not carry any more weight than yours. Businesses also expand.

And how are they going to keep the noise of weddings and the like to "daytime hours" ? I think she's just trying to push it through and then she'll do what she wants. I have yet to attend a wedding that finishes music before 12 at night.

Yeah that's my concern. She might say she's just going to do daytime weddings but if someone offers her 5k to do an evening wedding surely she's not going to say no, and businesses do expand as a pp said. She's saying it will be small scale now, but it already sounds like it will cause noise and will expand in the future.

Seriously what’s most uncomfortable- you’re neighbour not speaking to you now or a constant war over their business forevermore and to be honest potentially a dip in your house’s value?

Obviously I don’t know how close your houses are etc, but that’s a pretty disruptive business to start in a residential area.

You are 100% not unreasonable to state your objections. It sounds totally unsuited to a residential property with neighbours.

It sounds as if there will be numerous vehicles coming and going, noise, environment impact.

Find out what grounds for objection count. Find out what your local Development Plan is, you can ask your planning department what categories of development are allowed in your area.

I would object in as detailed way as possible. And probably seek expert advice. Would any other neighbours be affected? Team up.

Anyone intending to do anything like this should be expecting objections.

Would they need a public performance licence?

If they take it personally and get hugged up, so what? Are you supposed to accept their plans and smile and nod?

Planning laws are there to make the process objective. Either it is approved within planning law, or not. But you need to advocate your position.

Do you research, put in an objection, and I would ask to present your objection to committee, too. Look them (planning committee) in the eye.

Public meetings might be suspended at present. Your local Cllr will be aware of local applications, tell your Cllr about your objections.

Weddings will be awfully noisy.

Weddings???!!!

Endless taxis, cars, drunk people, celebrations...

She claims they will be hippy weddings and so everyone will be very well behaved 🤷

No way would I like to be living right next to a wedding venue. They are joyful occasions and people will be clapping and cheering and laughing and chatting afterwards. Are they planning on hosting all day events? I honestly cannot blame you for objecting.

Strumming of acoustic guitars, smoking weed, dancing naked 😂.

I cannot see any council agreeing permission for a business running events in a garden in a residential area. But you need to be very explicit about your objections.
Traffic and parking
Deliveries for the catering
People drinking (licence?)
Toilet provision
Noise

Not amplified hippy music. Fucking bongos I'll be bound.