Planning application - advice needed

[Robinw]

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I can't be much help, but i do know that if there are at least two objections there has to be an enquiry...so talk to some other neighbours quickly! You should receive a letter from the plannning dept which will givew you the first point of contact, and they will advise on the process.

Once your neighbour applies for planning permission a "Neighbour Notification" letter should be sent to all properties which border with the applicants property. You will then have 14 or 21 days to view the plans at the council offices and place your objections. We live on a narrow private lane and all of the houses here have huge gardens, we have had three of these residents apply recently to build large 5 bedroomed detached properties on their gardens. Once all the other residents got together and put across their objections, we know that 2 out of the 3 have been given a knockback.

You are best to oject on every ground possible. Examples are, overcrowding, overshadowing, noise levels when extension getting build, privacy rights ie will any windows look onto your property, traffic problems when construction under way ie will the emergency services be able to access your property during construction work (seemingly always a good one), parking problems due to construction work and afterwards especially since they are doing away with the garage, appearance of extension in keeping with the rest of the street, will the materials for the new extension eg roof tiles etc match what is already there or will it be an eyesore, impact on natural environment ie will the area be too built up, how close to your own borders will the extension be (there is a legal limit), safety for children walking to school etc highlight the fact that diggers, lorries etc could cause huge safety problems for little kids. Thats all I can think of just now.

We actually involved our local Councillor for her points of view.

Once you note all your objections the Council then have an obligation as to let you know what the final outcome will be. I live in Scotland and what I have written is applicable to Scottish law, but I presume the English system is the same.

Best thing to do is go the planning office and ask to see the plans and ask the planner there for advice. They are usually really helpful. If any of your other neighbours feel the same as you, it is best you all write similar letters, preferably one from the husband and a separate one for the wife, as the more letters they get objecting the better.

Good Luck.

I agree with Mima - the pub next door to us which has been shut for a year has just started extensive building works, to build an extension out the back (overlooking our garden) a light well out front, timber decking with braziers for all year round outside drinking etc etc.

So far, we have seen the planning application (no neighbour notification letters at all) and have written to the planning dept at the council, and copied the letter to our two local councillors (who replied the next day). Advice we have received is COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN. Apparently all complaints have to be logged and this will be read out at the planning meeting.

DH has the council's number programmed into his phone and has called them about 20 times already (last time was this morning to complain about a skip being replaced at 7am outside our bedroom window!).

A friend told me that many applications will be far more extensive than actually required due to the planning process, and their actual plan will be more moderate - difficult to prove this though.

Anyway good luck, and keep us posted

Forgot to mention, the chap at the council who is charge of this project couldn't be more helpful. Has given us lots of advice (including multiple complaints) and has been round within half an hour to see how the light in the garden will be affected.

Not really relevant but an ex-friend of mine, her Mum had digital TV and when the next door neighbour built an extension, it totally knacked the reception up!!

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Robinw, before you can turn a property into rented accommodation or into flats to sell, I thought you had to have parking. Does he have it?
Our Council says that to have a loft conversion you have to have a certain number of parking spaces for the amount of bedrooms you have (before the conversion) this may be something else to look into. R.

On a related theme can anyone shed any light on the issue of overhanging branches? My neighbours on either side of my house both have trees whose branches overhang right to the middle of my garden. Can I cut the branches myself or do I have to ask permission. Also can I insist they keep the trees under control?

Debster, you can cut off what is hanging in your garden but legally the bits you cut off belong to your neighbour so you should give the bits to him!

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