Hello
I was hoping that you could put yourselves in the position of my neighbours from the point of view of my wanting a balcony and planning application.
I have two neighbours - one who lives opposite me over my driveway, behind a high fence. Her bungalow is situated about 100 metres from my house. Actually she’s my mum but I’m being objective. She is 94 and has dementia and lives alone. Mum is a very private lady and insists on pulling her blinds down every night because she thinks my neighbours (to my left) stare into her garden...I don’t think they do but I just humour her. Her bungalow is very secluded with lots of shrubs and a 6 foot fence. Mums bungalow faces some stunning countryside which, being behind her I could probably see from my house too. Mum can’t see the views because she has very tall trees that obscure her views as well as mine. I have offered to cut the trees so that we can both enjoy the view but this was refused. She is very elderly and confused so me and sibling sort of look out for her.
On the other side of me is my other neighbour who generally keep themselves to themselves and, like my mum, are very, very private. Their house is a 4 bed like mine and we live side by side facing my mums bungalow and garden.
My house faces a wide drive and has a long wide garden at the back. I’m probably more overlooked by my neighbours at the back because their house is set back more and they can see into my garden. We have a 6 foot fence between us and I can’t see into their garden.
My house has land all the way around and, being very square, I don’t feel an extension would look good. So I’m considering a loft conversion with a double bed and en-suite and, because of stunning views over mums bungalow or over my back garden, I would love a balcony.
I know I will need planning permission and agreement from my mum if I went for the front and views across rolling farm land or from my neighbours if I built a balcony on the back with view over a lovely long garden and farmland to the left.
My neighbours to my left probably be overlooked by the balcony as it would face straight into my wide garden with my neighbours house set back behind me.
I know my mum will refuse point blank but she really is very confused but her GP has diagnosed capacity so mum can make her own decisions. I’ve accepted mums decision over the trees and not able see anything from my house so it’s okay.
I just can’t predict what my neighbours to my left will say. I will speak to them anyway but I’ve got a feeling they challenge anything I do as they like things the way they are.
I’m just interested in some other views before I start getting quotes.
If it’s not possible I’ll will go with an ordinary extension but with so many lovely views around my house it would be lovely to be able to take advantage.