House extension under building notice - Neighbours opinion?

[hfullwood]

Hello,

We have just had the council round to enquire about extending on the side of our house. The previous owner built a garage on the side with planning permission and foundations suitable for a double storey extension. The council have approved the footings and have confirmed a building notice is what we will need, full planning permission is not needed.
The only thing we are unsure about is that building on top of our garage, up to roof height, will block some light from our neighbours. They have a bedroom window on the side of their house and there will be only a 1.5m path between our house and theirs. The extension is very likely to block some light into their house, do we need to ask permission? We have spoken to them about it and they didn't raise any issues but they are the type to complain once we tell them formally. What say do they have? Is it something we should worry about? We of course will put obscure glass on our side window too.

Thank you
Hayley

You're best speaking to a professional because with any potential neighbour dispute, you will want progress with your extension by the book.

If the space between you is about 1.5m and depending on how the foundations interfere with your neighbour's house, you may need to look into getting a Party Wall Award in place. It will confirm the current state of both properties, ideally with photographs, and confirms information such as what the works are, how long they are going on for, how access is going to be sorted and pretty much how any damage that may be caused by your works would be sorted.

You're probably best speaking with your builder - if they have done extensions before, they will have undoubtedly come across it. Otherwise, you might want to enquire with a chartered building surveyor (look through RICS - the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors have a search function) who would be able to tell you.

I think the stuff about light is something that quite often comes up for dispute but unless I'm corrected, I didn't think there is no real legal definition of what is a reasonable amount of light a property should have, which is cold comfort to people missing out. That sort of stuff normally comes under local planning and building regulations. Again, a chartered building surveyor or solicitor would be able to confirm.

In the off chance your builders need access up that path to access the outside of the proposed extension, I would try to be as civil and by the book as possible. The Award above will confirm rights of access as well.

If you already have planning permission you can only build what is detailed on the planning drawings. This will include windows, doors, materials, roof etc. You should be able to find copies on your district council website; if not visit in person at open time and request hard copies. If there is no planning you will need to apply as this will change the front elevation and presumably us close to the boundary.

Not sure about the rest of uk but in Scotland there is a right to light (but not a right to a view).

If you are at the stage where you are getting plans drawn up, you should do your best to minimise loss of light. Otherwise, it might end up in costly and lengthy revisions. Plus, you don’t want to fall out with your neighbours.