You think you know your neighbours.

[DimPrawn]

Just tell them that if planning is refused, you intend to buy a bigger house and rent that one out to problem families

That's what I did.

Then sold it on for a very fat profit several years later.

[wc2]

Just tell them that if planning is refused, you intend to buy a bigger house and rent that one out to problem families

Just what I was thinking.

We need the space for Mrs WC2's snakes as they have taken over the house. - They other option to the extension is to move.

Dim - oops these plans do exactly that

[sasguru]

If you can answer/refute their objections, the council will usually grant you the permission. Be reasonable/polite at all times with the council flunkeys and (pretend to/) look at compromises. The neighbours will eventually piss them off if they continue to object.
.

[wc2]

Thanks SAS

I'll do just that

[OwlHoot]

Am I missing something?

yes - an "e" in "story". We were all completely baffled

[wc2]

WHS.

Plus cross some palms with silver.

It works wonders around here...

It's more like copper around here - or even better lead off the local church roof

[Peoplesoft bloke]

The neighbours came to / telephoned me. with their objections. Should I have gone to them first?

The council came round yesterday to take photographs of the driveway etc

Not for me to say, but if I was planning something, I'd go round first - I wouldn't want the first clue they had about it to come via a letter from the Council - if one of my neighbours did that to me I'd regard it as bad manners.

Aren't there some new rules afoot for extensions (there was something in today's Torygraph).

From the sounds of it they don't have much real cause to object. An architect or planning consultant (or possibly a palnning officer at the council if they are friendly enough) could tell you what the valid causes are - I know objecting to the building works themselves isn't one for domestic extensions.

[OwlHoot]

If things aren't resolved promptly with the extension, I'd submit an application for a bungalow or something major in your back garden that will really have their hair standing on end.

Then if/when that is refused try re-submitting the application for the extension and make it known to the neighbours that this would rule out the bungalow which you had been seriously considering and might re-submit if the application for the extension is rejected.

(I think the Government have legislated to make it easier to force through planning applications to build on gardens.)

[wc2]

Not for me to say, but if I was planning something, I'd go round first - I wouldn't want the first clue they had about it to come via a letter from the Council - if one of my neighbours did that to me I'd regard it as bad manners.

Aren't there some new rules afoot for extensions (there was something in today's Torygraph).

From the sounds of it they don't have much real cause to object. An architect or planning consultant (or possibly a palnning officer at the council if they are friendly enough) could tell you what the valid causes are - I know objecting to the building works themselves isn't one for domestic extensions.

In hindsight I should have gone round.

The guy who drew the plans used to work for the planning department of the council I am seeking permission.

[Alf W]

I think there are some quite simple rules about what constitues blocking out other people's light. If you've had a half decent architect they should have taken those into consideration when doing the design.

Building work issues? Tough 5hit neighbour. Unless you are blocking off access it's not a planning decision.

The car parking issue sounds lame as well.

I'd say you haven't got much to worry about.