Planning permission - roof terrace (London)

[Chocolateandwineplease27]

Potentially outing but our neighbours are submitting a planning application which includes a roof terrace - it's a row of terraces and they are noisy at the best of times so pretty worried about the noise/privacy even though it's meant to include 1.8m screening (which will look hideous) as our gardens and windows are so close together!

Any people in London and particularly Wandsworth experienced with such applications?! Keep hearing mixed things as to whether it will be approved - apparently Wandsworth quite lax with approving roof terraces (great!)

No experience but if you're going to object it might be worth to chat this over with a planning consultant. They'll know the planning law and will be able to advise how best to object.

Look here page 53 and here section 4

The proposal will need to meet the requirements of the policies set out in the above documents, so if you are going to object, refer to specific policies where there is a conflict.

The main issue will be potential loss of privacy. Take photos showing what the impact will be - what areas will be over looked, the proximity of the terrace to your property, windows etc, and submit them as part of your objection. Ask the planning officer to visit your property when they carry out their site visit. Contact your local Councillor to see if they would come and visit and support your objection.

The difficulty with planning is that each application is considered on its own merits. Every site is different with its own unique set of circumstances. Just because a terrace was approved somewhere else (or indeed refused) doesn't mean that hte same result will occur in your case.

I’m local and from what I’ve seen I don’t think Wandsworth is generally keen on roof terraces unless there is precedent ie other houses along the row already have them.

Try to get at least 3 people to object, if 3 or more objections are received then the application is considered by the committee rather than just a single planning officer. The more the better of course. Objections need to cite loss of privacy, noise, loss of light rather than looking hideous (unless it’s a conservation area)

Actually, looking hideous is a valid objection, although I would refer to it in design terms as harming the appearance of the dwelling, being out of character etc. Design is a very valid planning issue, and not just in conservation areas.

yes true

Thank you so much for your comments - really helpful. I think it bugs me more because although it's a flat (and outside space obviously more rare with flats), they have direct access to a really large (by London standards) garden. Also if ask the houses in the street started doing it, it works look awful and there would undoubtedly be noise problems

Thank for again though - much appreciated

Sorry just re-read - awful typos!! Hopefully you get the gist!!