how to get a copy of my neighbour's planning application - we want the same dormer!

[tostaky]

hi,

we've recenly moved (3 weeks ago) so i dont know my neighbours at all and dont feel confident aout asking them.
we've bought the flat (conservation area) because there is a loft and we thought we could have a dormer window in there. our architect tells us we need to leave 1 metre eAch side of thedormer because it is a flat and we cannot go full lenght. but when i look at my next door neighbour dormer's i am pretty sure he didnt leave 1metre between his dormer and the wall....

since the planning applications are in the public domain, i should be able to have a look at what he did and maybe could argue our case for a slightly bigger dormer....
if we take 1m off each side, then the dormer will only be 1.7m wide and im not sure it is even worth doing. but if we get to 2.5 metres that would be great!

so how do i go about to get a copy of my neighbour planning application?

(conservation area is very old and their dormer looks like it was done when the conservation area was already in force)

in our area you can go on the council website, into the planning section and download relevant information.

Oh good grief, knock on their door, pay them a compliment about the dormer and ask them. If they can recommend their builder, so much the better.

Just go and ask them!!

Like Chasingsquirrels, where we are everything is online. So much so that DH who is not an architect, or anything remotely like it, has been able to put in a pre-planning application for a house we have offered for using the plans for previous planning applications of the house, using Microsoft Paint (!), and garnered information (roof heights, etc) from the neighbours planning applications as well. Since he is tight careful with money, this has made him very happy.

" we've recenly moved (3 weeks ago) so i dont know my neighbours at all and dont feel confident aout asking them. "

Thats clear enough. Not everyone is able to breeze up to a complete stranger and start a conversation. Comments such as those above are not helpful.

" since the planning applications are in the public domain, i should be able to have a look at what he did and maybe could argue our case for a slightly bigger dormer ..."

Unfortunately just because certain work has been permitted on one property does not automatically mean that if you put in an identical application it will succeed. Planning doesn't work like that. There are rules and guidance however if the application goes to the Planning Committee they can overrule their officer's advice.

As it's in a conservation area the best approach would be to your local council's conservation officer. Either ring or email for initial advice - most 'normal' planning officers have to defer to their judgement anyway. The council will also have planning guidelines which are often available online

Better still, get your Architect to do it for you!

I would not expect any client of mine to have to do this, indeed I would feel embarrassed if they did.

"Comments such as those above are not helpful."

And neither is this

Why the patronising tone pendeen? Op came here for advice. Lighten up.

Info should be on council's website or you could view plans in person at planning office.

Because the OP had already written " i dont know my neighbours at all and dont feel confident aout asking them. " comments such as " ^Oh good grief, knock on their door" .." are certainly not helpful and my comment was therefore not at all patronising.

My advice for the OP to contact the conservation officer and not go to the website stands for the very clear reasons stated.

Because the OP had already written " i dont know my neighbours at all and dont feel confident aout asking them. " comments such as " Oh good grief, knock on their door .." are certainly not helpful and therefore my comment was not at all patronising.

My advice for the OP to contact the conservation officer and not go to the website stands for the very clear reasons stated.

but my formatting is lousy

Well everyone is a stranger until you say hello and three weeks after moving in is a great time to do it. After a year it's just embarrassing because you're blatantly only saying hello because you want something. No wonder this country is struggling if people can't bring themselves to say hello to their neighbours.

Oh and she might well not need an architect. Our builder did our drawings for us.

that is amazing how i come here to ask a simple question, and i get judged because i would rather get some info easily off the web than ask my neighbours....

you dont know me, my situation or my neighbours.
You have not even contributed positively to the thread. you are just rude.
Please do not post on this thread again. Find something better to do.

Thank you for all the constructive answers other people have posted.
I went on the website but only the results of the applcation is available. so i emailed the council for the drawings. not sure they will send them to me.

That is interesting Pendeen the fact that it is not because next door application has been approved that mine will automatically be approved....
My concern is my architect is a bit too proud of his 100% success rate in terms of planning application and im worried he will take the safest route and not the riskiest one to ensure his success rate remains at 100%.

im hoping to go to pre planning meeting with similar drawings to my neighbours and take it from there.

FFS where were you judged?

You do not get to say who posts what and where. If you don't want replies from anyone I suggest you don't post on an internet site.

Happy Camel the OP already has an Architect.

Builders sometimes are able to provide basic drawings however they very rarely have the education, training, flair, skill and knowledge to handle complex design issues or conservation applications.

My point was that I would not leave any client to attempt to tackle the labyrinth that is the UK planning sytem and I consider it disgraceful (and embarrassing) that that he should attempt to duck his professional responsibility.

Please please consider asking your neighbour. We had a bay window put in a previous house and went round to see neighbour who had the same. They were overjoyed we wanted to measure their window because the houses looked so much better for being matching. Also might there be something to do with 'part wall agreements' that means you might have to be in touch with them anyway when you have the work done. Having just had work done on current house I'm always pleased when people ask for details of what we've done.

suttonmum - thank you - i think i might ask because i also want to know how they did their staircase. they must have had the same problem as us because the house are exactly identical.

thanks

The council are not likely to send you the drawings, they may not still have them depending on if planning was ever sought and also plans are copywrite to the architect. I think you need to trust the advice of the professionals here- have a chat with another architect if your not happy with the advice you have got. In my experience it sounds like you have someone who is good enough to be honest- I've had experiences of people who just tell clients what they want to get the work- getting them lots of misery in the process when permission is refused! I would also speak to the planners and building control at the council to discuss the likelihood of getting permission. Like someone else said just because it's been done elsewhere doesn't always mean that it will be allowed now. In conservation areas all planning applications will be judged as to whether the development 'preserves or enhances' the character of the conservation area so if the dormer will be an attractive addition to the roof will be considered, on the other hand if its an over wide dormer or the combination of your development with your neighbours means that it's not so attractive, you might struggle. Good luck!

Speak to another architect.

Do keep in mind rules and regs change regularly so what applied to 1 may not apply to another a few months later. And with dormers - do you have exactly the same outlook as your neighbours. What buildings over look you? Could effect outcome.

I would speak to your neighbours. Although you think they are identical - there might be a minor difference that makes all the difference. Another architect might find a solution or have some brill ideas. We had huge building works and the first architect we spoke to was blinkered and uninspiring ( and we know loads of them due to DP's job).

If the plans are not online the planning department will have hardcopy versions. On our council website you were able to see historical applications and then request copies of the plans by quoting the planning reference. I had to pay for the copy (£20) I think.

Hi, I'm unsure if this will help or not but thought I would share my experience as its similar to yours.

Our neighbours both side have front flat dormer loft extension. We wanted ours done and thought we would be more likely to get planning if we matched the neighbours. Before applying for planning we submitted initial plans to our council who rejected them. The reasons were that they no longer grant planning for front flat dormer windows along with other dos and donts.
What this means is we now have to go for two pitched dormer windows which must come in from the side of the roof and not meet the top of the roof and do not come as far down as the bottom of the roof. Our house will be the only house in the street with this design and will actually look odd as it won't match anyone else's.
So even if you do manage to get hold of your neighbours plans it may be a waste of time as just because they have something doesn't mean you will get approval for the same thing.

Thanks for sharing your experiences.
I went to the council, got all the drawings I wanted, ran through what we wanted to do with a planner and he gave me a few useful tips to help our application.
Just need to get the drawings we want from the architect now!