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Original poster

Neighbour unhappy about porch

75 replies

jenn88 · 05/04/2023 16:47

Looking for an outsiders opinion and advice!

DP and I brought our first home 5 years ago! Run down and needed gutting! Blood, sweat, tears and endless money has gone into this house!

Finally we have been able to start process of adding a much needed porch! We have three dogs and a 3 year old! We are only house on street that has not added a porch!

It's been started about a month ago but slow progress due to rain! But foundations dug and concrete base laid, our drive is covered in bricks, bags of sand etc so no secrecy!

Next door, lovely lady in her 70's (I should imagine!) has mentioned to DP as he left for work this morning she wants a word tonight as she is unhappy with our planned porch as it will block some of the Sun into her living room....!

She is very active woman, out most of the day every day with her horse, also never opens her blinds in her living room!!! (Not relevant!!)

I can't see how this would impact her 'sun' and I want to know how to approach this without causing conflict! I'm generally a bit of an anxious over thinker and would hate to upset her!!

We are good neighbours! Always try to help her out with bin day, DP will clear her drains when he has ladder out etc (this isn't relevant!)

Thanks if you got this far!!

OP posts:
Sunnyfunnytimes · 06/04/2023 07:26

Greensleevevssnotnose · 05/04/2023 17:44

So many ¡!!!!!!!!!!!! It hurt my eyes.

Me too. I got so distracted by it.

Allthingsbrightandbeautifulx · 06/04/2023 07:32

Now if you were parking a big ass camper van / caravan on your drive, then I could understand her complaining about you blocking the sunlight - but also you are totally entitled to do this as it would be on your drive.

unsync · 06/04/2023 07:44

I reckon you could fit a nice big shed on your drive or even a garage. You could put all your stuff in there.

Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious · 06/04/2023 07:45

Just say that you're putting in a porch like she has a porch and there's no discussion to be had. She has to deal with it.

viques · 06/04/2023 07:54

Oh dear. Can you not tell her not to worry because the super powerful security lights you are planning to install will shine right over towards her house for eight hours a night and will make up tenfold for the small amount of sun she thinks she will be missing out on. She will never need to buy lightbulbs again for the front rooms of her house.

EnjoyingTheSilence · 06/04/2023 07:56

So what happened OP?

snitzelvoncrumb · 06/04/2023 08:02

I would listen to her concerns, and leave the conversation being vague and not making any promises. She might just have a very small world and want to have something to do. Hopefully it ends if you listen to what she has to say.

Seeline · 06/04/2023 08:23

LibertyLily · 05/04/2023 23:05

I thought the permitted development rules for porches was 3 square metres (which isn't the same as 3m x 3m, surely?).....

Otherwise, just get on with building your porch and tell her to get lost. Oh and please step away from the exclamation marks @jenn88!

Show quote history

Yes - to be permitted development, porch cannot exceed 3 square metres in area eg 1m x 3 m in shape.
3m x 3m would give you 9 sq m and would require PP

tanstaafl · 06/04/2023 08:32

I thought anything that added footprint to the front of a house required planning permission.

permitted development was for adding to the rear of a house out of sight.
even then, you had to not block light to neighbours windows.

also, the two houses to the right in your diagram have porches , but where the porches built at the same time as the houses ?

LibertyLily · 06/04/2023 08:33

Seeline · 06/04/2023 08:23

Yes - to be permitted development, porch cannot exceed 3 square metres in area eg 1m x 3 m in shape.
3m x 3m would give you 9 sq m and would require PP

Show quote history

Thanks for confirming what I'd thought @Seeline

I'm sure she's not, but if @jenn88 is intending to build a 3m x 3m (9 sq m) porch perhaps that is why the neighbour is peed off, as that would be huge....

IglesiasPiggl · 06/04/2023 08:41

It always amazes me that people complain when their neighbours build the exact same structure as they have themselves. It's a whole new level of blinkers going on, it's staggering.

HurryShadow · 06/04/2023 09:33

Unless she's directly East or West of you and there's nothing in the way of a sunset or sunrise like a fence or a hedge, there's no way her house would be affected. For a porch to affect someone's light, it could only happen when the sun was really low in the sky.

Even if you are directly East or West of her with an open field beyond your new porch, the impact on her sunlight will be for about 5 minutes morning and night.

I'd like to say she's bonkers, but I'll be more polite and say she's worrying unnecessarily!

Heronwatcher · 06/04/2023 09:41

I’ve had this a couple of times with neighbours who have just been unsettled by change. I was very very nice to them but just explained that we needed it to make the house work for us and were acting within our permitted development etc. They were a bit pissed off whilst the work was happening but forgot all about it after a couple of months.

harriethoyle · 06/04/2023 09:46

Greensleevevssnotnose · 05/04/2023 17:44

So many ¡!!!!!!!!!!!! It hurt my eyes.

Same. Utterly puts my teeth on edge.

MrsSkylerWhite · 06/04/2023 09:49

Smile, ignore. If she persists, ask if she is intending to demolish hers, which presumably blocks light to her neighbour.

MagpiePi · 06/04/2023 09:54

Does her living room window actually face due south?
If not, then maybe the sun will be blocked for a short while on midsummer evenings, but otherwise, she is talking rubbish. She's just not happy with having a different view when she glances out of the window.

user143777534 · 06/04/2023 09:57

Surely she has just confused her terms, and said it blocks her daylight when what she means is it spoils her view.

People get very attached to a certain view, and upset when it changes, even if it’s not a particularly picturesque view.

(I also agree with other posters that you should check about permitted development. Presumably it changes from area to area, but here you need permission for anything forward if the front elevation.)

sevenbyseven · 06/04/2023 10:06

jenn88 · 05/04/2023 17:59

@WestminsterAbbey
I believe the rules are the completed external structure should not exceed 3m x 3m
And further than 2m from boundary onto a highway?
Obviously further more complicated rules.
I understand we are building within our limits and not breaking any permitted building rules, however I will be honest my understanding is limited!!!

What are the external measurements of the porch? It sounds like you may have misinterpreted the maximum size allowed under permitted development as a couple of other posters have pointed out. You're allowed 3 square metres (eg 3m x 1m), not 9 square metres (3m x 3m).

Having said that I'd imagine you're likely to be granted planning permission based on what you described and the fact it's the same size as all the other houses' porches.

NancyPickford · 06/04/2023 10:22

I was looking for an exclamation mark, but it seems there's a world shortage as OP has cornered the market.
Why are you ending every sentence with one?

Antiquiteas · 06/04/2023 10:48

Fuck her, she’s throwing her weight around. Do not try to appease her for Christ’s sake.

GasPanic · 06/04/2023 11:28

Tell her not to worry about your porch because the big fence you're going to erect will block her view of it.

wonkylegs · 06/04/2023 11:50

jenn88 · 05/04/2023 17:59

@WestminsterAbbey
I believe the rules are the completed external structure should not exceed 3m x 3m
And further than 2m from boundary onto a highway?
Obviously further more complicated rules.
I understand we are building within our limits and not breaking any permitted building rules, however I will be honest my understanding is limited!!!

Yep they are the rules as long as your road hasn't had it's permitted development allowance taken away (some estates don't have permitted development rights due to their original planning decision, or you are in a conservation area) which is unlikely since all your neighbours have porches - but easy to find out if you have any doubts - search the local council planning portal using your address and it should come up with any restrictions to planning under one of the tabs - if you can't find yours try a neighbours house that's had work done

wonkylegs · 06/04/2023 11:52

Sorry meant to say its 3m2 area not 3m x 3m but otherwise correct
Clear rules & guidance in gov planning page www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/porches/planning-permission

TheGoldfinches · 06/04/2023 11:53

FYI OP: the tabloids are onto this 🙄 apple.news/ACqp3QLpyRC2Kc1bTXSGeKA

Seeline · 06/04/2023 14:12

tanstaafl · 06/04/2023 08:32

I thought anything that added footprint to the front of a house required planning permission.

permitted development was for adding to the rear of a house out of sight.
even then, you had to not block light to neighbours windows.

also, the two houses to the right in your diagram have porches , but where the porches built at the same time as the houses ?

The rules for porches are different to extensions. Porches at the fron are fine as long as the other rules are met.

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