Planning approved neighbouring land, building 13m from my house

[custardbear]

Can I do anything? There is a large block of apartments that have been approved next to/behind my house. We're a bungalow with a loft Conversation so 1.5 storey I suppose, but approx 13 metres from the back of our house, where we have 3 bedroom and 2 bathroom windows, a block of flats, 3 storey is going up. Some parts are 4 storey but that's a distance away from my home (there are over 80 flats in this complex going up)
The local planning booklet mentions new buildings being 36metres away from existing buildings, yet this approved now and it's about 2/3rds too close according to their own guidelines! We did write this in our objection. There were around 50 objections from neighbours yet it's gone through - I'm appalled - clearly dodgy dealings or money has changed hands!
Can we appeal? Please, anyone with any knowledge please let me know
Thanks

No planning expert. There is a presumption in favour of development. The council does have to follow the fever you strict planning rules. You can't appeal but could complain if you don't think rules have been followed. If developers appeal which will be judged by the relevant government department and the council is in the wrong the Council stands to loose a lot of money. Backhanders to council officers don't exist as the rules are so tight.

YABU to say that it’s dodgy dealings or that money’s changed hands.

I suggest you read the full planning decision which will tell you why it’s been granted and what the local plan is.

I'm sorry to hear your distress about this OP.

There's not much I can explain without knowing the application reference and which bungalow is yours etc.

But if application has been approved and this area of land is allocated in the local plan, its unlikely to win an appeal if you (and your neighbours) took it to appeal to overturn the decision.

Have you looked at the height of the the apartment block compared to with what's already there? Have you considered the views and the windows back-to-back distances etc.

Also, there is very unlikely to have been any money exchanged hands... unless I've worked in areas which are different to rest of the country, bribery doesn't happen (and I work for a large building developer)

I doubt dodgy dealings or bribery, just read the decision and take the time to understand it.

The number of objections is largely irrelevant, it’s the quality of them that counts. Only objections to things that are defined planning criteria are considered, things such as right of light, adequate parking and fitting into the current street scene.

People often object to things such as noise and works traffic which (rightly or wrongly) have no impact on the decision.