Major house build on tiny country lane

[PenguinRoar]

I live part way along a dead end lane. It’s narrow with drainage ditches either side and protected woodland trees over hanging the lane. A neighbour has been granted planning permission for a ten+ bedroom house with stables etc. At the end.

Parish council objected and stated the owner had not publicised the application in the area. The first I knew of it was last week.

Having spoken to the contractors, it is a two year build with hgvs up and down the lane daily, including girders, concrete etc. The lane has a weight restriction of 7.5t.

I saw in the NPPF that a transport assessment should have been made given the increase and impact on construction traffic, but highways were not consulted.

Anyone with planning knowledge who could offer some pointers?

The owners obviously need to build the house, but I feel they also have a responsibility to mitigate the environmental impact and disruption. They have no conditions applied to their permission that I can see.

If planning permission has been granted, it is too late to object.

You’re in the UK I take it? I don’t understand how your local council didn’t inform near neighbours of the application when it was first made. I also don’t know how they can not have consulted Highways? Is it different in different regions because here, the local council informs us of planning applications it’s not the responsibility of the person making the application. There is a similar plot to be developed near me, down an unmade lane, their application was turned down by Highways even before any other consideration. If your local council failed to publicise the application in order for you to be able to object within the timeframe then you could try the ombudsman.

Publication means some lamp posts etc, the council website and perhaps a local newspaper. People often miss it, but it doesn't mean there was no publication. Highways will no doubt have been consulted, since that is part and parcel of any permission. I am sure there are avenues the OP could take to try to fight it after the event, but it would probably be a full time job for her. and may cost more than she can afford.

Highways may have not been consulted if it’s an extension albeit a large one to an existing house as it’s one for one and therefore highways may not have been consulted. I would be really surprised if there were no conditions attached at all... they usually have at least a few standard ones. You can call the planning officer and ask these questions if you want to find out more.

Ring your local authority (not the parish) and ask to speak to the planning department. Ask them to clarify where they placed the notices. If the plot being built on is at the end of a dead end, the planning authority should have put the application consultation notices in a place they can be seen. For example, we live somewhere similar, a tiny lane with a few driveways off. Someone wanted to fell a protected tree, the authorities put the notices at the top of the lane so we could all see it, not down at the property. If they've not done that properly, you could argue they've not consulted fully. Ask for a copy of the decision to grant and the conditions attached, as well as environmental report, highways report & response. The award should come with restrictions on times of day for vehicle movements. All these should be public documents available online, but speaking to them is a good start to help you understand where you stand.

Thank you all.

Highways policy locally is not to be consulted on single dwellings but this is more than a small house. It’s a knock down rebuild of 20 acres.

Not sure where parish council left it after their initial complaint but have left messages for highways and the district,

Have a look on the planning portal of your local authority. With luck all the details will still be there. If so, it will detail who was informed at the time and where notices were posted. It will also give you full details of the build and any objections.
Sorry if you've already done this.
Parish councils are pretty toothless. Ours has more in common with the vicar of Dibley.

I don't think there's anything you can do. I'm surprised this is the first you've heard of it, my village would have been all over this like a rash! Traffic down your lane isn't a reason to refuse pp.

I live on a lane that sounds very similar. We often have farm traffic that crush the verges, spread mud everywhere etc. It's just part of living in the countryside.