balidey
Distinguished Member
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- Jan 2, 2009
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I have recently submitted a planning application for an extension above my garage. I originally consulted two architects, 4 builders and none of them suggested we would get any problems receiving planning approval.
We decided on an architect, plans drawn up, paid for, submitted and fees paid.
Before all this we spoke to our neighbours either side who were fine with it.
Reason we need to extend is we have 3 kids sharing 2 bedrooms, we love the area, want to stay, and can't afford to move out, but we can just about afford to extend and give our kids their own rooms.
There was a date for objections to be posted. This has been and gone.
Now 6 days after that date on the council website there is an objection letter from the person in the house behind ours. We didn't speak to them, infact I have never seen them before, my wife has seen them once or twice in 8 years.
Their objections are that they will not get as much light in their kitchen.
I have had several people tell me that light is not a given right and that this will be dismissed by the council. But I am worried that as its been raised then they might reject our application.
Another objection is that it will set a precedent and the house will not be in keeping with the rest of the houses in the row.
Well our neighbours all have 4 bed houses, ours is a 3 bed. Infact this will make ours MORE in keeping, and all out neighbours are couples, no kids, so they are very unlikely to ever extend their houses further.
They also objected that we already have a large conservatory (built at time of house being built) and a large shed that also 'blocks light out of their kitchen'. But surely these have no bearing on the proposed extension.
So, after all this, it sounds like they are dead against it as we are already depriving them of light.
Now, lets put some facts down, their property is to the SOUTH of ours, so we are actually in their shadow, and their massive trees deprive us of light most of the day.
We have to extend, we can't afford to move to a bigger house.
Also their letter of objection was received AFTER the date they should have been received. So should it have been dismissed entirely?
So here is the point of this post (apart from having a good rant), do we write to the council with replies to all these points?
Do we speak to our neighbours and try and appease them (no idea how) and ask them to retract their complaint?
Do we wait for a decision? Which could be a NO, if so we will have to pay for an appeal and perhaps change the plans, which I can't afford to do.
or wait for the decision and hope its a yes?
Anyone been in this situation before and can offer advise?
Thanks in advance.
We decided on an architect, plans drawn up, paid for, submitted and fees paid.
Before all this we spoke to our neighbours either side who were fine with it.
Reason we need to extend is we have 3 kids sharing 2 bedrooms, we love the area, want to stay, and can't afford to move out, but we can just about afford to extend and give our kids their own rooms.
There was a date for objections to be posted. This has been and gone.
Now 6 days after that date on the council website there is an objection letter from the person in the house behind ours. We didn't speak to them, infact I have never seen them before, my wife has seen them once or twice in 8 years.
Their objections are that they will not get as much light in their kitchen.
I have had several people tell me that light is not a given right and that this will be dismissed by the council. But I am worried that as its been raised then they might reject our application.
Another objection is that it will set a precedent and the house will not be in keeping with the rest of the houses in the row.
Well our neighbours all have 4 bed houses, ours is a 3 bed. Infact this will make ours MORE in keeping, and all out neighbours are couples, no kids, so they are very unlikely to ever extend their houses further.
They also objected that we already have a large conservatory (built at time of house being built) and a large shed that also 'blocks light out of their kitchen'. But surely these have no bearing on the proposed extension.
So, after all this, it sounds like they are dead against it as we are already depriving them of light.
Now, lets put some facts down, their property is to the SOUTH of ours, so we are actually in their shadow, and their massive trees deprive us of light most of the day.
We have to extend, we can't afford to move to a bigger house.
Also their letter of objection was received AFTER the date they should have been received. So should it have been dismissed entirely?
So here is the point of this post (apart from having a good rant), do we write to the council with replies to all these points?
Do we speak to our neighbours and try and appease them (no idea how) and ask them to retract their complaint?
Do we wait for a decision? Which could be a NO, if so we will have to pay for an appeal and perhaps change the plans, which I can't afford to do.
or wait for the decision and hope its a yes?
Anyone been in this situation before and can offer advise?
Thanks in advance.