Neighbour's conservatory

[wendyg]

We received a letter form the Council today saying that our neighbours have applied for planning permission to build a conservatory.

Basically we have no objection at all, but the letter is a bit ambiguous - do we still need to reply to say that we don't mind, or just ignore it?

[Rude-boy]

You can ignore it if you want. Sort of the consent by silence. You could send a letter saying that you have no objections if you want, however if you do and other object your letter could be used as evidence to support the application.

Personally i would pop round and say you don't have a problem but could you have a look at what they are planning to build. Once you know that you will have an idea what you will be looking at in a short time and if you are likely to have a problem with it or not.

Interesting that they have had to apply for Planning Permission though. It means that either:-

a) Its going to be huge, &/or
b) Their property is listed, &/or
c) You are in a conservation area, &/or
d) You live in an area that is subject to an Article 4 direction.

[FunkyNige]

Rude-boy said:

Interesting that they have had to apply for Planning Permission though. It means that either:- a) Its going to be huge, &/or b) Their property is listed, &/or c) You are in a conservation area, &/or d) You live in an area that is subject to an Article 4 direction.

Or they want radiators in there...
Seriously, if we wanted rads in our conservatory we would have to have planning permission.

All planning permission plans are on public display at the local council offices so you can take a look there, or just go to your neighbours and ask to take a look.

[Hanslow]

What it actually means is that it will be a brick based conservatory, and not just glass panels all the way round. To erect the permanent brick wall base you need planning permission.

[stumartin]

I haven't got my glasses on, I thought this thread was about the Neighbours controversy (I'm off work)

[Rude-boy]

FunkyNige

Planning Permission - That's an odd one, I would have said Building Regs would have been required but doubted Planning Permission would have been other than in the instances I mentioned before.

[FunkyNige]

Rude-boy said:

FunkyNige Planning Permission - That's an odd one, I would have said Building Regs would have been required but doubted Planning Permission would have been other than in the instances I mentioned before.

That's what the conservatory people told us and Dad checked it out I believe (he deals with the planning department at work an awful lot and is on the local parish council so he knows what he's talking about). I could be in error, I'll check tonight and let you know.

[Pickled Piper]

wendyg said:

We received a letter form the Council today saying that our neighbours have applied for planning permission to build a conservatory. Basically we have no objection at all, but the letter is a bit ambiguous - do we still need to reply to say that we don't mind, or just ignore it?

You don't have to reply unless you have an objection. You should also have the option of viewing the plans. I would recommend you do this as you really don't know how big the conservatory is going to be.

pp

[LuS1fer]

Actually, I'm told by installers that more and more councils are insisting on planning permission as it allows them to control the sudden plethora of these things appearing all over the place and of course it allows them to adjust your council tax banding if they wish.

[chrisgr31]

LuS1fer said:

and of course it allows them to adjust your council tax banding if they wish.

Nope! The Council Tax banding will not change following the installation of a conservatory unless one of two events occur. The first being a Council Tax Revaluation, due in 2007, or a relevant transaction. A relevant transaction basically being a sale.

So you can buy a small house, double it in size and no additional council tax is payable until either you sell it, or there is a revaluation. This is why some people buy a house knowing it is in one band, and then find a few weeks later it suddenly jumps up a band or more.

The theory is that one shouldn;t be penalised for your own improvements to a property. Its different for business rates where if you extend your property the RV will be increased.

[B17NNS]

conservatories have not always been considered 'habitable' spaces (they are for growing plants in) and as such have not really required planning or building regulations approval.

I think the regs are changing though to accomodate peoples uses of these rooms.

Would have thought it would need planning due to its size (over 70m3)

[rolex]

wendyg said:

We received a letter form the Council today saying that our neighbours have applied for planning permission to build an observatory. Basically we have no objection at all, but the letter is a bit ambiguous - do we still need to reply to say that we don't mind, or just ignore it?

just ensure the dish does not block out all the light.

[Balmoral Green]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I certainly can

[a2z]

Good advice. If it just your standard conservatory they will not need buildign regs permission (although in the case of my mum and dad who like near the beach they had to jun run the foundation desing past them, pretty informal and easy) Also, they may need builing regs permisson if it opens directly into the main house i.e. no french doors etc.

Unlikely to need planning unless it is huge, listed etc but the floor area can't be over a certain ammount of the floor area of the house (10%) but if a garage is attached or within (I think) 5m than this has to be included

[g_attrill]

My parents required permission, because the house has a large extension on the back, and a garage on the side.

When they did apply they had to alter the pitch of the roof slightly, not sure why but possibly to match the conservatory two doors up.

Gareth