Two workshops being built nearby on new estate, would you care ?

[ZammoUK]

So I am wondering if I am being too noise concerned here. A new 60 house estate is being built on the field next to me, nothing I can do about that part. It is in the process of being built. The developers however want to amend 2 of the houses single floor garages on the original plans in to workshops. So this is essentially 2 floor garages, with the top especially for woodwork, etc.

Now these will be approx 30 metres away from me. So would you care about that and try and comment to the council, or would you just ignore it and think nothing of it ? I can sometimes be overly paranoid with potential noise, but it just seems odd to have 2 workshops in a new housing estate in a village. Are these things popular in housing estates ?

The planning department can put conditions on the developer to ensure noise is minimised, I would contact the planning department with your concerns and ask if a noise impact assessment has been carried out.

It sounds like the planning team is allowing for small businesses in a village. Local employment means less commuting.

Or the developers are just trying to add extra space/more profit to the house.

You have no way of knowing what they will be used for.

They could be garage below, office above. Or the eventual owner could apply for change-of-use and turn the upper part into another bedroom. The developers probably can't call it an extra bedroom though because they have planning permission for 3&4 bed houses, and this would make it a 5 bed house.

I don't know any woodworker who would carry loads of wood upstairs to work on it though. We have one locally who uses a similar space for his business teaching music.

@ZammoUK Are you saying the developer is going for planning permission for the amendment? They should because it’s change of use from residential to business. Usually, even in villages, employment like this is zoned. It’s not on housing estates. Therefore look at any restrictions and object if there’s a planning application. Nothing wrong with employment but usually business use is zoned. Eg next to a shop or local garage.

It sounds odd, as I can't imagine that the top floor of a garage would be large enough to run a business of any size, and as a PP suggests, getting materials upstairs might be an issue. It might be no problem - an artist's studio, for example. But 30m is quite close, so I would want to know more before deciding on whether to comment. You could potentially have someone using noisy equipment all day.

Sounds like permitted development is being used to sneak more bedrooms in, workshops don’t have upper floors

We have a flat above our garage. It’s no big deal fitting out space above a garage. The question is - is it for business use? Workshop sounds odd but workshops might be making curtains! Not necessarily noisy or intrusive. The planning dept should know and how did you find out op?

I think this is strange- a change of use before the thing is even built. Needs more investigation.

Is it a change of use or post planning alterations to add upper rooms which seems to be a very common development trick. Can’t call it a bedroom so don’t need to change the parking provision etc and highways on planning. Workshop is best excuse for extra floor on garage. More square footage to sell. Check how the level will look from your side and where any windows face, you can always object

You can only object if it’s a live PP application.

Thanks everyone, I have 2 days to object. The council itself has objected but ONLY for the rendering/brick work colour and how it may look, but if they change the colour I don't think they will reject it. No one has yet objected due to possible noise. Yes, there are stairs to the top, but it wouldn't stop the new owners adding a winch or lift I guess. The problem is I don't know what will go in there, like you say, it could be a quiet curtain maker or a noisy professional carpenter.

I believe the developers are doing it because they can charge more. The only way I found out is I check the planning reports every so often to the new build.

Good luck @ZammoUK

So you can object? Which council has objected to building materials? The one approving the application? That’s just sorting out materials. Sometimes done in a sensitive location. What does the application say about the workshops? What is the policy on rural workshops? You need to read this before you object. Is it policy to help local employment?

Also what does your neighbourhood plan say?