Neighbours want to adjust exterior of our property

[leavethewallalone]

We have lived in our house for coming up 8 years now. 2 years ago new people moved in next door just before lockdown. We don't have much to do with them other than saying hi when they moved in and taking in parcels for them but they seem ok.

We live in terraced houses but each house has a single storey bit at the back that is detached. They're a kind of weird shape in how they are built because they are 70 years old, think a kind of wonky L shape. The wall of our extended bit sits very close to the boundary and as a result there is some overhang of soffits. This has always been the case and some of the neighbouring properties are the same.

Last week we had a planning letter come through our door. They plan to extend their little detached bit in both directions up to the boundary (single storey). I'm a bit shocked that they didn't speak to us before putting in planning permission, I know you don't have to but a heads up would have been good.
We popped round just to ask what their plans were, how long they thought the work might take as we both WFH so this would really impact us. It would also means gardens were not secure for a time period and we have children and a dog so this wouldn't be ideal, but is what it is. They talked us through their plans and I pointed out that the work they needed to do would mean altering our property as our exterior is currently in the way of where they want theirs to go. They just said "yes" without anything else. I tried to remain polite and asked why they hadn't spoken to us about this before putting in planning permission as this was not just proposed work to their property, but now ours. They shrugged and said ours shouldn't be built the way it is but they'd cover the cost for us. I pointed out that every property here is like it and if they wanted to extend they probably shouldn't have moved in to a house where there are boundary issues that have been known for 70 years.

We've had some back and forth with them offering nothing in the way of a you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours agreement, and just feel that we should let them do it. I've now said absolutely not.

I've spoken to the old neighbours who we are still in touch with and asked if they ever had any problems with the boundary. They said no but they did have to take out insurance that covered this in case our property ever damaged their garden etc. We have had to do the same because we have the same on the other side so this make sense.

I've gone through the deeds and any paperwork that I have regarding disputes, I even have really old building documents. No issues raised at any point in 70 years of this house being as it is.

AIBU or should neighbours move elsewhere if they're desperate to extend?

The house on the other side of them is empty so I have no idea what they're doing about that side.

Yes, planning policy might kick out the neighbours extension. It most def won't cover the problem OP is expressing.

If neighbours views weren't important why consult?! Ergo they are important, they are taken into account (for your benefit I'm being very clear here - its where an application for planning consent is not contraty to planning policy) and can influence decisions and conditions attached.

Planning policy goes so far it can't deal with everything. Period. Don't reply again its tiresome. My experience is as stated and no matter what you say, you can't affect what has happened 🤣🤣🤣

Are you trying to silence me? Why do you think you can do that? What I said Abbie is 100% accurate. DH is involved with many planning applications. Random incoherent comments by neighbours are ignored. Comments based on planning policy are considered. It’s that simple.,

But if only things based on planning policy are considered, why ask neighbouring properties if they object.
Planning policy is clear so an extension/development etc either does or does not conform to planning policy.
Asking neighbours then becomes irrelevant and a huge waste of time and money. Putting the extension/development through committee is again irrelevant.

Maybe that is why the US can push planning through in a couple of weeks whilst our takes months and years

There are material considerations that are taken into account. So an extension may comply with planning policy and meet household development guidance, but a material consideration of having to cut into a neighbour's roof to make the extension physically possible would be very important.

It can actually be enough to refuse planning permission.

A neighbour saying they love the proposal wouldn't be enough to grant planning permission if the proposal is non compliant with planning policy.

Anyway. I'm always intrigued that people post on planning threads with utter certainty because their DH has experience in planning so that means the poster knows what they are talking about. My DH could be anything, doesn't mean I know the first thing about his job.

Yrs,
A planner.

I was thinking the OP was BU, but then went to visit a friend with a build. Quick walk around and all detached, but you only own the side path on one side or the garage etc. Everyone’s soffits and gutters overhang their neighbours land, every single house does this. So you’d have to get them to remove it if extended that 1m. Changed my opinion!

*friend with a new build

@leavethewallalone did you manage to resolve this or is it still ongoing?