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Original poster

Neighbours hate extension plans

49 replies

OMeOMy · 15/07/2022 20:48

Any advice on how to handle this situation please? We've recently had planning permission granted on our extension plans- this wasn't really a surprise as our plans pretty much all fall under permitted development anyway and to us seek relatively modest. Prior to applying for PP we gave our neighbours a heads up and shared our plans with them- some were initially okay and others less positive. We genuinely don't think the extension should have a significant negative impact on neighbours (and this view was shared by the planning officer who approved the extension plans). Our immediate neighbours are now all up in arms - lots of personal and emotive comments added as objections on the planning portal, and now some are avoiding eye contact in the street while others are accosting me to tell me how 'shocked' and 'gutted' they are and how awful the building work will make their lives etc, how awful the finished result will be, how could we do this to them, etc. So far I've just tried to be friendly, smile and wave etc, and counter any specific concerns when they come up, but not sure if this approach is just adding fuel to the fire of their negative feelings towards us. I don't think anything will appease them except cancelling the build (we need more space so need to either extend or move). I'm starting to feel very uncomfortable/ stressed when out on the street and wondering if anybody had encountered similar and/or had any tips for managing the situation. Thanks.

OP posts:
BIWI · 15/07/2022 20:50

What are they objecting to though, that's generating such a hostile response?

ReeseWitherfork · 15/07/2022 20:53

What are you building? Sticking a bigger kitchen diner on the back or adding a basement with a pool, two extra storeys and your own version of the Headlington Shark?

Igmum · 15/07/2022 20:53

Well if all of them are objecting en masse I would have thought they had something to object to. What are you planning to do and why do you think they object?

user143677433 · 15/07/2022 20:54

Neighbours will pretty much always object to planning permission. It’s a given. Since you have had it approved, you know that most “objections” come to nothing.

You just have to smile and nod until the work is done, then invite them around for a glass of wine, and eventually they will let it go.

People just (understandably) don’t like disruption, and particularly when it comes to any impact on their home, which is their sanctuary.

olympicsrock · 15/07/2022 20:57

Yes neighbours don’t like disruption / building work and will object.
our Neighbours cold shouldered is for a couple of years, then eventually they realised we were decent people and we all got on with friendly neighbouly living

Sulusu · 15/07/2022 20:57

It's difficult to comment unless you give us some idea of what you plan on adding to your house. A one story extension on the back or a garage conversion for example is unlikely to really upset anyone. If you are adding a multiple storey build that affects your neighbours privacy or light it's quite different.

Rainbowshit · 15/07/2022 21:01

Do they have a point? What impact will it have on them?

MaggieFS · 15/07/2022 21:06

Separate the building process from the end result. No one likes living with building works. You can do a lot here to reassure your neighbours in advance and be responsible throughout. As for the end result, what are they objecting to? Can you discuss it with them?

WinterMusings · 15/07/2022 21:07

I'm finding it very difficult to answer without knowing what you're planning. Garage conversion/going in the lift, single dirt extension out the back or doing what they did on one of these renovation origrans and stuck a very modern, ugly huge box on the side of a period home.

im surprised they got it through planning, it was SO out of place in the street.

Original poster
OMeOMy · 15/07/2022 21:08

Thanks. I'd rather not mention specifics as it's potentially outing which would only make the relationship problem worse! There's (according to planning officer) a minimal impact on one neighbour's privacy (now mitigated against with some tweaks to the plans) and also a minimal impact on another neighbour's light (mainly in winter). All other neighbours are essentially unaffected. Lots of the concern seems to be around the disruption of the build.

OP posts:
JemimaPuddleducksWaddle · 15/07/2022 21:09

Rainbowshit · 15/07/2022 21:01

Do they have a point? What impact will it have on them?

This.

Both our neighbours have had extensions. One there was no issue with, the other there most certainly has been.

BIWI · 15/07/2022 21:09

FFS. How on earth can it be outing?! What on earth are you planning to build that might give you away, in a country with a population of over 60 million people!

If you're not going to disclose a bit more information how on earth can any of us help you?

3luckystars · 15/07/2022 21:10

What does Kevin Mc Cloud say about it? I’m sure he has seen this all before and will be able to talk them around.

Or is it like Jack and Vera Duckworths cladding?

Original poster
OMeOMy · 15/07/2022 21:10

It's not out of keeping with the street at all.

OP posts:
Mariposa80 · 15/07/2022 21:11

Does it involve a balcony?

demotedreally · 15/07/2022 21:12

How can it be basically permitted development and also outing?

QueenOfWeeds · 15/07/2022 21:13

Our neighbours’ loft extension now slightly overlooks our garden, and is still a work in progress (despite being over a year and counting). DH works from home and it has been hugely disruptive, to be honest. Might this be a concern for some of them? No way around it except really clear communication from you. DH has to book a desk in his office, so can’t really just pop in when it kicks off next door, but could have done with even a few hours’ notice.

Could it also be cumulative? If one person is worried about light, one privacy and others disruption, and they are talking to each other, is it possible they’ve created a bigger problem than if they each focused on their own concerns?

Doyoucursewhereyoucomefrom · 15/07/2022 21:15

BIWI · 15/07/2022 21:09

FFS. How on earth can it be outing?! What on earth are you planning to build that might give you away, in a country with a population of over 60 million people!

If you're not going to disclose a bit more information how on earth can any of us help you?

If the neighbours recognized their quoted words in combination with the specifics of the plans that would be pretty identifying imo....given that my whole aim is to improve neighbourly relations that would be a bit of a misstep I fear! My question is on managing neighbourly reservations to a build.

Original poster
OMeOMy · 15/07/2022 21:16

Mariposa80 · 15/07/2022 21:11

Does it involve a balcony?

Nope!

OP posts:
MarshaMelrose · 15/07/2022 21:18

It's understandable that when someone builds so close, you know that it will have an impact on you so you'd rather it didn't go ahead. Your idea of no significant impact will be very different from theirs.
My sister had a single storey extension that everyone moaned about. They made life very awkward with continual complaints that the plans had not been kept to. They had but the constant pressure of waiting for the council inspector to come round was wearing.
It's been finished for a few years now and everyone has settled down when they realised it didn't overook them, keep sun off their garden or really impact them at all. But they made my sister's life miserable.

RingoTsar · 15/07/2022 21:21

Dormer loft conversion on terraced house?

Original poster
OMeOMy · 15/07/2022 21:24

RingoTsar · 15/07/2022 21:21

Dormer loft conversion on terraced house?

Along these lines yes

OP posts:
Original poster
OMeOMy · 15/07/2022 21:29

QueenOfWeeds · 15/07/2022 21:13

Our neighbours’ loft extension now slightly overlooks our garden, and is still a work in progress (despite being over a year and counting). DH works from home and it has been hugely disruptive, to be honest. Might this be a concern for some of them? No way around it except really clear communication from you. DH has to book a desk in his office, so can’t really just pop in when it kicks off next door, but could have done with even a few hours’ notice.

Could it also be cumulative? If one person is worried about light, one privacy and others disruption, and they are talking to each other, is it possible they’ve created a bigger problem than if they each focused on their own concerns?

Yes I definitely think it's cumulative. I think they are all feeding each other's anger tbh.

OP posts:
A580Hojas · 15/07/2022 21:30

Our neighbours' building works (2 extensions) made our lives extremely miserable for the best part of a year. I don't feel kindly towards them at all.

If they wanted a 5 bed house with 5x5m kitchen they should have bought one. I can't see why it's suddenly necessary to vastly increase the living area for an average (2 parents and 2 or 3 children) in London.

Original poster
OMeOMy · 15/07/2022 21:35

A580Hojas · 15/07/2022 21:30

Our neighbours' building works (2 extensions) made our lives extremely miserable for the best part of a year. I don't feel kindly towards them at all.

If they wanted a 5 bed house with 5x5m kitchen they should have bought one. I can't see why it's suddenly necessary to vastly increase the living area for an average (2 parents and 2 or 3 children) in London.

Build likely to take around 3 months, some of that time inside the house. It wasn't possible for various complicated and boring reasons for us to buy the house we needed in our chosen area. Sorry to hear about your negative experiences. What was the worst part for you? Any way for us to avoid this?

OP posts: