Planning permission help ?!?

[Jam291]

Hi all,
Never really done this before but really looking for some advice.
Long story short, our neighbours have put in planning permission for a double story annex- which is a 3 bedroom, en-suites the lot, totalling to 8 rooms all together.
It will put our garden in complete shade.

So we have objected it, so have 3 other neighbours.
Anyway, I was in our garden today and over heard said neighbour talking about it, and said ‘well our garden will look much better once we build, but I must not say too much’
almost like they know they are going to get permission?
She was not aware I was in my garden.
Our local town council have recommend refusal / although doesn’t mean nothing really.
Anyway, am I being paranoid that somehow they are back handing this? They do have quite a lot of money, original house is huge!!!
Anyone on here that knows a lot about planning permission etc ?
My partner and I are both keyworkers full time and have a child with SEN so our spare time is really limited at the moment to even research! Xx
If this is posted in wrong place please let me know.

Hi all,
Never really done this before but really looking for some advice.
Long story short, our neighbours have put in planning permission for a double story annex- which is a 3 bedroom, en-suites the lot, totalling to 8 rooms all together.
It will put our garden in complete shade.

So we have objected it, so have 3 other neighbours.
Anyway, I was in our garden today and over heard said neighbour talking about it, and said ‘well our garden will look much better once we build, but I must not say too much’
almost like they know they are going to get permission?
She was not aware I was in my garden.
Our local town council have recommend refusal / although doesn’t mean nothing really.
Anyway, am I being paranoid that somehow they are back handing this? They do have quite a lot of money, original house is huge!!!
Anyone on here that knows a lot about planning permission etc ?
My partner and I are both keyworkers full time and have a child with SEN so our spare time is really limited at the moment to even research! Xx

Councils are generally very strict about giving planning permission. We knocked our house down and rebuilt it as 6 1 bed flats. It took us nearly 3 years to get approval. Our neighbours of nearly 30 years raised a petition, most of the reasons given were not valid to stop the build.

The rules for building an extension are based on the size of the house and cannot exceed a certain amount. Also windows need to be opaque so not to overlook nearby houses. Are you detached or semi detached?

If you google planning permission/building extensions you will probably find lots of helpful information explaining what is permitted.

Your local council might even have some information on its website under the planning department. Our council actually uses outside sources to help with the work load as they are so busy, so I doubt there’s any bribery or corruption going on. If there are objections or a petition it’s usually the counsellors who make the final decision.

www.planningni.gov.uk/index/advice/advice_apply/advice_apply_homes/advice_home_work2/advice_home_extensions.htm

www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200125/do_you_need_permission
Not sure where you are based op but the planning portal gives details of what's allowed in England.

Also you might want to approach your local ward councillor who can speak to the council on your and your neighbours behalf.

Just sounds like baseless arrogance rather than her having some back-handed approval....I’d find that very unlikely tbh especially just on a single residential extension. On a bigger scale, CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) multiple planning fees and higher council tax rates I’m certain act as tempting carrots for multiple housing developments and decision approvals within councils.

Good ideas here: talk to your councillor, talk to the planning department and do your research. It’s important when you object you object on relevant grounds. If it’s not deemed relevant as per the planning rules, then the people making the decision are not allowed to take it into account.

If a smaller area, so possibly a very cliquey council crowd then yes who you know does help.

We've had huge numbers of plans rejected by the local council, due to maintaining the appearance etc of the area, yet they approvedplans using containers that aesthetically are far worse for this very "quaint" rural area.
But they'll need to find ways to Overcome all neighbours objections if reasons that objections can be sustained.

There's generally quite a limited amount that can be used as valid objection. Light and privacy are good ones but any architect can get round those with some tweaking. CIL won;t be an issue either as it's thier residence so almost certainly be zero rated. They'll possibly also have to have sustainable drainage (eg soakaway) so watch where they site it should planning be granted.