Objections To My Extension Going To A Planning Panel?

I recently got some plans drawn up for a 2 storey extension to my existing 2 bedroomed semi detached house. I am wanting to do away with the garage and extend the house the width of the existing house and come foward 1.5 metres on both stories for the extension only. I am also wanting to take the extension out a little further than than the existing garage is, and leave a 1 metre path around the house. I really did not think that much about this as it only really affects house which is a bungalow next door which already elevated from my house so that the upper story is all that would affect it. Also the bungalow is set quite a bit forward. Anyway I thought it would be neighbourly to show the affected neighbours the plans. When I first went round just the husband was there and he was ok really but obviously did not really want it. He proceeded to show my partner and I the room that he thought it would be spoinling their view from as there is only one window facing the extension (I should also mention the proposed extension has no windows facing their house) the room in question was a box bedroom that did not even have a bed or even a chair in it. He said that they were not vindictive people and he would have to run it past his wife. 30 minutes later there was a knock at the door and his old trout of a wife was measuring out 1.5 metres from the front of my house and telling me that I could not do that at it would ruin her view. My girlfriend tried to reason with her but she was rude and just blanked her. Foolishly I offered to compromise as she was making a real scene and I offered to just extend the ground floor out 1.5 metres and leave the upper floor flush with the existing house. She agreed but said I would have to bring the revised plans around for her to go over When she left I had a huge row with my partner as she was disgusted with how rude this awful woman had been and I had not stood up to her. I must add I am very laid back and hate confrontation. So we decided just to go ahead with the existing plans, and again I thought I better go round and tell these neighbours.

When i went round and told them the guy was just really off saying so your not bothered about us then. I tried to explain that it is an estate and very similar extensions have already been built. He just got a bit nasty and said I better get a good structural engineer for the retaining wall that there property is built behind. I was going to do this anyway.

So I put the plans in and was at home when the planning officer did a site visit. I explained that this woman was causing trouble. She stated that similar extensions have been built and that she is not entitled to a view. She also said that no objections had been placed yet, I said I am sure that you will get one.

Anyway the Friday before Xmas I got a letter from planning stating that there had been six objections. Obviously one from her, the neighbour in the adjoining semi (how it affects that house I really do not know) and 4 other houses across the road, 2 of these houses do not even look directly on to my house (one of these houses itself actually has a substantial extension). I was expecting something as I saw this woman knocking on neighbours doors and going into their houses, I also heard her saying that they are going to totally ruin my view and that I will fight it until the end I have a feeling that she has got them to sign some kind of formatted letter that she has made out, as I cannot belive these people that it really has nothing to do with could be bothered to write letters for this silly woman.

I am able to view the letters but unfortunately the council offices are closed until the 2nd January, it goes before the panel on the 9th. I will still take a look but do not have loads of time.

I am just amazed at how spineless these neighbours are as we are very quiet people who keep ourselves to ourselves. I am also positive that none of them have actually viewed the plans either, as the extended house will look much better than the house is now.

I am just not sure how much weight these objections carry as the letter stated that the main objections were to the protuding double story extension. It could also be to be not keeping with the houses on the estate but I am sure that it does.

We have had our Xmas ruined, and cannot believe that this woman has got neighbours to go against us. I am sure that they were probably forced into it as she is great at laying on the crocodile tears.

I was just wondering how to go about this? I was thinking of writing a letter first trying to state what has it actually got to do with these other neighbours. Maybe including an overhead picture from google earth showing that some of these are not valid objections anyway. I was also thinking of taking photographs of similar extension on our road and on other similar estates to show that it is nothing really out of the ordinary.

Just wanted some pointers really. I really want to move personally as this woman makes me sick and I do not want to live next to her. But I guess she may get used to it in time if it is granted and we do build it, but I am just fed up of the whole thing to be honest. Either way I want to try and get planning permission whether I stay or sell as I owe this woman nothing. If planning say they need revised fair enough but she has been rude and I have no intention of speaking to her again!

planning are rather more lenient these days almost encouraging people to extend. but, first floor extensions do, in a lot of cases, need to be set back from the building line.

anyhow, it will be the planning committee that will have the final word regardless of objections.

they take into account that some neighbours will object simply out of jealousy. their objections must have a certain merit.

Yes I have heard that they are a lot more lenient these days. Building set back from the building line is not an option as it would make it far to small and not worth doing. I should add that going out backwards is also not an option as I would have to extend the retaining wall from this old bags house and also my garden is held behind a 4.5' retaining wall, the cost would be to big to move all the earth and build walls. I do not really think that neighbours are jealous I just think that they have been pressurised by somebody rather stupid. I tried to tell this woman when she was being horrible that we should just leave it up to planning and if there is a problem they will sort it. I will just move if it does not get passed or needs changed, as the house is so small it is not worth bothering with. I really did not see it as a big deal. If these stupid people want a view they should go pay half a million or something and keep away from housing estates The view is pretty rubbish anyway by the way

But if they were blocking your view and devaluing your property by imposing their house on top of you I'm sure that YOU would grumble too.

Nowt as kweer as folk.

i was merely using the word 'jealous' as an example of a petty excuse.

why not fight tooth and nail and obtain you p.p.

once obtained, sell up.

explain to the new buyers that the house has very good potential and that you already have the magical p.p.

you can then inwardly smirk as the new neighbours make 'the old bags' life hell.

you could even pop by and give her a wave.

Moving sounds like a very good option, but then again why bother about neighbours.

once an application has 5 objections it becomes "listed " meaning that it will go before the Blue Rinse planning committee .

They should be taking the planning officers recomendations for approval or refusal, so speak to your planner first chance to see what their recomendation is.

Its not uncommon for neighbours to enlist the support of the old school in this instance , but their objections must be based on planning grounds .

You may find that your neighbour has a number of " friends " on the committee they have primed who will vote to suit , even sometimes against the planners recomendations for approval.

Keep in contact with the planners in case somebody from your neighbours clan decides to speak at the meeting , this has to be registered a number of days before the meeting and you will then be offered the chance to reply .
You cannot stand up on the night and respond , so keep in contact with the planners beforehand


it sounds to me as though they are just being ****s

stop talking to the neighbour - you`ll get planning if you get it or you won`t but either way a neighbour dispute is a bad move, let her get upset it`ll wind her up more than you.

We had exactly the same happen, planning sailed through and then we sold out for a profit.

Oh yeah, and reported her " illegal " side extension the day after LOL

Never tell your neighbours what you’re doing; many will object just for the sake of it & it just gives them more time to dream up ridiculous reasons for not wanting it.

I had to go to full committee (2 extensions additional windows & a garage) because of stupid neighbour objections but being a rural location, they don't even live close; they were all nonsense & the committee vote was unanimous to approve my application. I live in an area classed as being of outstanding natural beauty which is outside the local development plan & one objector was the chair of the Rural Parish Council (they had recommended refusal but that doesn’t carry any weight with the full committee) & it still didn’t make any difference. I also have a developer friend who specialises in buying properties with large gardens, sub-dividing & building new properties in the original garden; a parasite maybe but he’s never lost one yet.

Folks come up with some really silly objections that never stand any chance of being upheld; they don’t have a right to a view or even light but the tricky one is overlooking. Other tricky areas can be listed buildings, areas of natural beauty or outside the local development plan but even these are not insurmountable. Objections have to be founded on breach of planning regs. if it’s within the regs & doesn’t breach any Parish guidelines then you will eventually get PP; don’t roll over & die, go to appeal if you have to & when you win approval, CC will have to pay your costs. Parish Council & planning committee meetings are a feudal joy to behold but you will all get your chance to speak; just do your homework, have factual answers ready to shoot down each of the objections, keep calm & you should be OK.

The neighbours are entitled to object, get over it.

If the Development Control Comittee refuse planning permission they should give adequate reason on planning grounds for doing so. Just having objectors is not adequate reason.

If pp is granted the objectors have no further right of appeal, but if pp is refused the applicant has the right of appeal to the Planning Inspectorate and an appeal inspector will then decide the case. The appeal inspectors decision is final. In my experience the appeal inspector will come to a fair decision. Whereas the planning officers and councillors... Pah!

they may not hae a right to a view, but they have a right to light..

if the extension will block out a large portion of the light into their box room they may have grounds for refusal...

I cannot see the right to light bothering this, as the proposed extension is the width of their garage and 2 access paths from the window in question. Also it is not coming forward that much, this woman thinks it is but believe me it isn't. If the right to light is a problem that is fair enough, that is a valid reason for refusal and I do not have a problem with it. I am trying to just do things by the book and not annoy anybody as I really feel like selling the house. So obviously I do not want to get into some kind of dispute and have to declare it on the Sellers Property Information Form. I guess the sensible thing to do would be just to abandon the planning application. But we are just really p1ssed off that we have spent well over a grand on this. But then again I am not sure that if the property has PP that it will actually add any value to the sale.

joe-90 said:

But if they were blocking your view and devaluing your property by imposing their house on top of you I'm sure that YOU would grumble too.

Nowt as kweer as folk.

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Maybe have a little grumble, but certainly not involve other people that it does not involve, we just do not have the face or cheek for that. I am a little younger and more open minded, if people want a view they should pay for it and not live on a housing estate. Also the view is of houses

Obviously there is no point me crying about this as I will never change these peoples minds. I just hope to god if I do move I get normal neighbours.

wokeye said:

I just hope to god if I do move I get normal neighbours.

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Don’t like to disillusion you but I’m not sure there are many around anymore & I can only see it getting worse! Everyone is being crowded ever closer together on new estates, run riot kids are not being checked anymore & the “sod everyone else as long as I’m OK” attitude now so common will see to that. After problems around my last commuter box, I chucked in the towel & managed to escape to the country. I now have cows & sheep on the one side with a neighbour on the other but, guess what, since winning my PP 2 years ago she will no longer even acknowledge us let alone speak; but her husband is OK though & at least we have enough space around us for it not to matter. The other objectors quickly got over it once they realised I wasn’t going to roll over & we have remained on good neighbourly terms; a couple even pop in regularly to see the latest progress & admit the problems they feared have just not materialised.

Don’t give up with the PP if it’s what you really want, especially after the expense you’ve incurred. Current PP should make a difference to the property value even if you don’t actually do the work, especially if it adds another bedroom.

Thanks for the advice Richard. I have actually been in touch with planning and viewed the objection letters. They are embarassingly bad to say the least. One of them actually says from a sad neighbour across the road that Mr & Mrs X use their drive as a patio as it is a great suntrap and has superb views, then it obviosly goes on to state that my hideous extension will ruin it. Also I have been told that the planning officer did aprove the plans, but because of so many objections it has went to a panel. We are definitely going to move as we are both sick of these a***holes. I am just bothered that if I get PP then sell it, that I may get some conflict that I do not want when trying to sell a house. So maybe we should amend the plans to please this horrible woman and her husband then just sell it. Either way I just need a change, and it is killing me having to be nice to these people because I want to sell the house.