Do I object to rear neighbours planning ?

[Workgetsintheway]

Hi all, not sure whether I can object to neighbours planning application. We got a letter about 2 weeks ago and the notice to object expires today!! It is for a big ground floor extension to a bungalow which sits behind our house. I checked the plans online, had no objections so had pretty much set it aside. However just checked but chance after chatting with DH & the plans also include a rear Dormer which will directly look into our garden & as our house is on a slightly higher level directly into our kitchen. The dormer is labelled as permitted development which has previously been granted. ( neighbours not consulted) - now I don’t know whether to email a last minute objection due to loss of privacy & overlooking or just suck it up. Would you object or is it really unreasonable ? Any advice or help appreciated. X

Building control would not have any involvement in obscure glazing requirements. Even if it’s a bathroom window - the regs would not cover this.

I think that may depend on the local planning authority. One of our neighbours got them involved when their rear neighbour put a new dormer in a loft conversion under pd and glass was changed(or opaque film applied).

Planning control and building regulations are covered by two separate sets of legislation. Building control won't be able to require them to add opaque glass this is a planning issue.

To be PD any SIDE window has to be obscure glazed. No such provision in the General Permitted Development Order relating to rear dormers.
this may help explain what is and isn’t permitted development.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d77afc8e5274a27cdb2c9e9/190910_Tech_Guide_for_publishing.pdf

But just to reiterate - planners have no lawful discretion to consider impact on neighbours in assessing whether something is or isn’t lawful development.

Where I am one of the rules of PD means glazing has to be obscured. So it only falls under PD if this is the case.

But if the dormer in question is already listed as permitted devel without obscured glazing then that’s the way it will stay

My neighbour mentioned they didn't like the idea of one of the windows facing their way in our recent planning app, even though we have another closer window already looking the same way (our house was built first!) I just took that window out of the plans rather than upset them. Might be worth trying a chat?

Sadly not, approved April this year.:(