We wanted to extend our kitchen by filling in the side return on a Victorian terrace and extending the back of the building 3.5 meters, matching the depth of our neighbor's extension. Our architect and builder didn't expect we'd have any problem getting PP, but the council planning officer, after doing an onsite inspection, told us he was going to turn it down. The architect asked him if he could give us guidance about changes we could make to resubmit and get it accepted, and planning officer said no, he'd turn down any application that extended the back of the house because it would overshadow the neighbor on the other side (who doesn't have an extension.) None of our neighbors objected to the plans. Also, this is down to the deadline - the council has to give its decision tomorrow. (The planning officer never got in touch about doing an inspection -- it was only after I phoned him to ask how the application was proceeding that he said he had to do the inspection immediately, so it was done on the last working day of the 8-week period.)
My architect first said we should appeal the decision and that we were pretty sure to win, because of the precedent of other neighbors having similar extensions on our street. Then he said we'd be better off trying a two-pronged approach -- doing a 3-meter extension from the back of the house under permitted development on the side where there's concern about shadowing the neighbor and getting planning permission to fill in the side return and go three meters back on the other side -- and doing the jobs simultaneously, so we get the same extension we sought PP for. Can that work? The architect told the planning officer on the phone we would use permitted development to get our plans through no matter what he decided, which Im not sure was a great move. I'm scared that since the planning officer knows we're planning to use permitted development he'll reject any application for a side return extension, and may also withdraw our PD rights. Could anyone advise how best to go ahead with this?
My architect first said we should appeal the decision and that we were pretty sure to win, because of the precedent of other neighbors having similar extensions on our street. Then he said we'd be better off trying a two-pronged approach -- doing a 3-meter extension from the back of the house under permitted development on the side where there's concern about shadowing the neighbor and getting planning permission to fill in the side return and go three meters back on the other side -- and doing the jobs simultaneously, so we get the same extension we sought PP for. Can that work? The architect told the planning officer on the phone we would use permitted development to get our plans through no matter what he decided, which Im not sure was a great move. I'm scared that since the planning officer knows we're planning to use permitted development he'll reject any application for a side return extension, and may also withdraw our PD rights. Could anyone advise how best to go ahead with this?