Letter about neighbours extension help

[Brighteyes27]

Received a letter last week saying our adjoining neighbour is going to build an extension it's single storey on the back 5 meters deep and 4 meters high. We have a much smaller extension on the back which was built before we moved in over 20 years ago (we replaced the roof which was poly carbon or something with slate and put velux windows in nearly 10 years ago and extended my sons bedroom by building up above our garage on the other side and sought planning permission. Yet on the plans we received with the letter the true footprint of our house isn't shown correctly (only how it was when it was built in the 30's) which concerns me?
We say hello to these neighbours and will take a parcel in for them and them for us but that's about it.
Needless to say they didn't mention or discuss their plans to extend with us. I am worried about how their plans will affect us and if they do how we can appeal etc? We will definitely lose sun from our patio on an afternoon/evening (really the only time we sit outside). They also have two dogs and are forever entertaining (loudly). If it is a pitched roof it wouldn't be too bad but if it is a flat roof it could potentially be very imposing. We also have a hedge between our house and there's which is about 5fT high (so don't know if the intention is to build right up to this hedge, take the hedge down or what's happening? I have just came off the phone to the planning department and they are going to come and see me next week. Any pointers or advice on what I should ask as me husband won't be there. I don't want to worsen relations and know I could and maybe should go round and see them but he is a bit of a Neanderthal and she's very quiet like a startled mouse most of the time. Also really I feel they should have spoken to us before letters were sent. Thanks

I don't understand how you will lose all your sunshine because of a single storey extension? Sorry if I've misunderstood.

You need legitimate objections (in planning/legal terms) and I seem to recall light isn't one. Have a Google before the visit.

If the extension is under a certain size (and they may well be able to show that it is) it might not require planning permission and there really isn't much you can do about it, unfortunately.

It sounds like you really do need to have a conversation with your neighbour and keep it relevant to their plans - what are they doing about the hedge? Replacing it with a fence etc.

The current hedge between our properties is approximately 5ft high and the proposed extension juts out 5 meters and is 4 meters high so it will lessen our sunlight. No idea what they are doing about the hedge as they have not discussed this or anything else with us. He is very volatile at the best of times so I wouldn't want to ask him anything or my husband ask him incase he flys off the handle.

I'd object just because he's volatile.

Is it going for full pp or as a larger extension under permitted development? I'm not sure how a flat roof is more imposing than a pitched one. Tbh there are relatively few acceptable grounds for objection and right to light on your patio is unlikely to be enough.

LIZS it's the larger development one. I don't know whether they intend to attach it to our extension as it looks to be full width on the plans (but obviously our existing extension isn't showing on the plans) or leave a bit of a no mans land gap between the properties. I am by no means Gardner of the year but both their front and back gardens are extremely untidy. So I wouldn't put anything past them. Their extension looks to take up half their garden.

Surely they won't be able to attach anything to your property? We built a conservatory on the back. With pp. A gap between the 2 houses and we had to put privacy glass on their side.

They can only attach their extension to your with your permission and potentially a party wall agreement. You need to be clear as to where any roof overhang will be and where gutters will be positioned and downpipes will discharge. Who owns the hedge? If it is along the boundary line then unless the title registers of your properties state otherwise, the presumption is that the hedge is jointly owned and maintained. They can only remove it with your permission.

I honestly don't know something about a change in the law recently allowing people to improve properties etc. The previous owners of our house also wanted to build a conservatory but the father in law of the mad man next door objected so they finished up with a window to the side with privacy glass in which we since blocked up and a poly carbon roof.
Also neighbour had some bricks delivered before we even got the planning permission letter which is annoying as he just thinks he can do what he likes.

If your dh is away and the neighbour is volatile, I would first of allmake sure I was not alone when you talk to them.

Things to consider to ask the planner
-hedge if they remove it, what will they replac eit with on boundary

• are they building up to the boundary or within the boundary on their side
• Your extension - are they planning on touching yours/leaving a gap
• make it clear you do NOT want theirs attached to yours.
• If they are very close, check the drainage, so their roof doesn't pour down onto your extension

Unfortunately them blocking the light doesn't count, but some of the above might be a reason for them being refused/required to keep it smaller

Oh -forgot - check there are no windows over looking you (not allowed) unless they have frosted glass

He probably can do what he likes if it is within permitted development.

Why don't you put up a fence so that you are not affected by their plains for the hedge?

First of all, don't panic. I take it the letter you have received is from your council? If so, you should be able to check the plans that your neighbours have submitted by looking them up on the internet. Our council has a planning portal, and detailed drawings should be on there which will give you some answers as to exactly what is being proposed. You need to make time to sit and look through these calmly before the planners come around. Write down a list of your concerns for discussion, including the fact that your extension, which has PP, isn't on their diagrams.

Secondly, recognise that there may be things you have to let go here. A certain amount of extension is allowed under permitted development at the moment- I think it's about 4 metres out from the boundary from a semi, but I could be wrong. However, there may be details of the plan that can be changed in response to some of your concerns: the height and roofline, for instance. A lot of the time, what happens to the boundary is specified in the detail of the planning application, so do ask about the hedge.

"Larger homes extension" under pd is currently set at 6m for semi and 8m detached properties , so either way they are within that. Some of your concerns may fall under Building Control rather than Planning so you may wish to speak to them. The council won't get involved in boundary issues.

My DM successfully blocked her neighbours extension because it would have blocked all the light in her kitchen, I'm not sure if it would be taken into account for blocking light to a garden, and it was a two story extension. They did build one eventually, but much much smaller than was originally planned. Light is taken into account but maybe only for within the property.

We recently got new neighbours and they are planning a huge extension that will double the size of the terraced house they live in and come right up to the party wall for the whole length of the garden. It is definitely going to block light from our DDs bedroom and our sitting room and kitchen, so we will be objecting. Sad to sour neighbourly relations but I don't want a dark alleyway for a garden and darkness in the rooms we use the most. I don't understand why someone would buy a small 2 bed terraced house and try to make it a 5 bed, just bonkers.

This explains about right to light.

www.rics.org/uk/knowledge/consumer-guides/rights-to-light/

Everything guilty said is correct and I would reiterate probably the most important and urgent thing for you to do right away is contact planning and explain the plans submitted are incorrect as they do not show your property correctly.

Thanks all some useful points.
I have looked the plans up and they don't give any details in terms of roof shape, windows, doors, down pipes etc. it only shows a sketchy footprint of neighbours house which seems to be drawn in as lines with a biro (no measurements on plan-only on letter), half of our existing house footprint (extension not shown), neighbours the other sides not adjoining house and the house immediately behind them (we are the most affected). I am unsure re the hedge but think it maybe a joint boundary. How would I find out for sure?

Check your deeds, in the first instance, and the vendor enquiry form, although the boundary and hedge may not necessarily be the same.