Not a doggie comment, i'll try and keep it short. I had plans drawn up for an extension, and my neighbours who we got very friendly with for the last 10 years who claimed to be our friends and are god mother and god father to my children and we have been on holiday with, shared evenings in eachothers houses etc have now put loads of objections into the council, but claim that they see no reason as to why we should fall out about it. At one point she did say to me 10 years friendship was worth more to them than weather the extension got built or not, then they went and slapped a 2 page letter of every objection into the council. The application was refused, and since then i have this week re submitted and she again sent me an email after me telling her not to mail me again stating that they will object all over again .Is it me just being strange or would anyone else find this totally not right after claiming friendship for 10 years, or am i the one now in the wrong as i have told her or them not to email me, and i dont even ever want to talk or see them again !!

Depends upon the extension etc. and whether it would spoil their view, light etc, but if it's something small that would have not effect on their lives then they are being funny.

no it doesnt spoil their view, but they want me to have non opening frosted glass windows in my "family room" in case i can open them and hear them or look at them over the fence, when we were supposed to be friends for 10 years, just wondered if anyone thought it was me being the funny one

Planning permission will not be refused because a neighbour does not like an extension or even if it spoils a view.  There has to be legitimate grounds.  I think you have to consider whether you have been unneighbourly towards them in what you proposed and not just the other way round.  Could you perhaps consider extending in a different way that would not encrouch on their privacy and perhaps include them in your discussions?
They have to consider the value of their house as well as their privacy so you may, infact, be asking your friends to take a large financial hit over this as well.

ithink this is horrible of them, why would so called friends do this, this is the problem with most ppl, if for instance this extension was a metre away from their house blocking everything them i would think it might upset them however they are supposed to be friends and so they should be man enough to tell you rather than the council, for starts if they had told you before you got plans drawn up then you could have amended them and come to some sort of agrement, to me its selfish, i would cut my nose off to spite my face and not speak to them, thats me tho, im not nasty person but i couldnt have someone being this way to me, not when you have been friends for so long, or so called friends

This is a difficult one, but to be honest good neighbours are worth their weight in gold, nothing worse than having an ongoing feud with neighbours. If I were you I would call a truce and see if you can come to some compromise before it all gets any worse - you don't want to be stressed everytime you step out of your own front door. Talk to them before it gets worse.

I would agree with Isabels' comment that your neighbours objections wouldn't have entirely affected the councils decision, many years ago I put in plans for an extension, the two neighbours that would have been most affected put in letters saying they had no objections but permission was still refused.

dont want to blow my own trumpet but i done more for them "small things" than they did for me, stupid things i know but post when on holiday, call them if the alarm when off and checked around the outside of the house, even ran myself to near exhaustion when their rabbit got out in the street and couldnt bare the thought it might get quashed so stayed there til i caught it, take in parcels etc etc, their never there so dont do things like that for me. everything else about the extension was passed by the council, they squashed any other stupid things they moaned about, it was a window on the side of the house that swung it for the privacy, but the window would of looked onto a brick wall, guess they just didnt want it there

to be honest cant see it getting "any worse" because i have cut all tie with them, know it might sound harsh but i'm that mad that i cant even bare to look at them or even bring myself to say their names out my mouth
also i know it's the one sided story but she is a bit of a "i want the biggest house" and i've got this and i'm getting that person, so thought it might be a bit of that, i know that sounds childish
all along they knew we were putting the plans in i had told her, told her how big etc, and then because once she received the letter from the council, she thought that she wasnt stabbing me in the back because she told me that she was complaining to the council, and basically said "i cant she any reason as to why we would fall out about it", needless to say we have, and i cant see myself going back ! it must be me being horrible, but it's the way i feel

When it comes to protecting your property, which is most peoples' biggest asset, then I can't see that friendship comes into it?  I would expect to be 'reasonable and look at the longterm picture' if any of my neighbours put in planning applications. 
If what you were hoping to do would detract from their property, and both they and the council obviously thought it unreasonable, then I would expect them to object, friends or not.  I can't see any reason to fall out with them either.  What a shame that you feel that way ......

yes it is a shame that i feel that way i know, but we all have different opinions and thoughts and that makes all different. the reason the council refused was because they told the council my proposed side window was right opposite their ensuite window (frosted), which it wouldnt of been, couldnt of looked into the ensuite or whatever, i would of even paid for them to have a window that opens in the opposite directions, and i have even said that if the council would let me then i would willingly put a frosted window on the bedroom (not ideal), but would of sorted the issue that they thought we could see in. It's a shame but i cant bring myself to forgive my so called friend about this, and after all this they are thinking of having a kitchen extension and loft conversion themselves, and are moaning about mine. then they originally said before we fell out that they would probably be moving in a few years anyway

If it was me, I would try and find some common ground over the extension with your neighbours...in my experience the planning committee now take in to consideration more (new planning criterias), any objections they recieve....it would be easier to find out your neighbours problems and gain a solution from it.

HTH

my neighbours problems are as she quoted in one of hundreds of emails to myself that "they just dont like the whole thing", so i dont think i can gain a solution to it, 99.9 % of it was passed by the council, the refused it because they said we would be able to look into their ensuite when the window was open (never been open in 10 years but suppose not the point i understand that), the council never came out and checked this, took their word for it over the window and refused it on this point alone

Hi loucon

as several others have mentioned, the council would not accept objections without sound cause and it is extremely rare for them to give such in depth consideration as you believe if there are no other reasons than you've described.

Additionally, property prices can be adversely affected - which is a huge deal! - by inappropriate extensions/additions to adjacent properties and it's possible that while you don't fully understand the implications your proposed extension may have on anyone else the council does.

It would be better all round if you could maintain contact with your neighbours, even if you can't be such good friends as before, and perhaps if you sat down with them in their home as well as your own and went through your proposals with detailed plans you would each see things more fairly and a satisfactory to both parties compromise reached. 

Easier said than done but swallow your pride a little - it may just make the difference between you having your extension given the green light or not so in the long term surely worth considering :) 

HTH, Teri

ETA  I see you've posted further while I was replying

>the refused it because they said we would be able to look into their ensuite when the window was open (never been open in 10 years but suppose not the point i understand that),

TBH that is a major infringement on privacy IMO and I'd certainly not be happy about my neighbour altering his property with similar results.  Perhaps have your plans looked at again and see if your architect can provide a suitable way around this issue.

Ditto some people feel that an extension will damage their property, overlook, stop their light ect. We moved into a place years ago and the neighbour turned into one from hell, even down to fisticufs with my (now X) husband in the street. Its guarranteed to upset about as much as fences and hedges.

Have you had a pre planning meeting to discuss what might gain favour from the planning authority? they would not refuse it solely on neighbours objections, in fact they cant, it has to be on planning issues or you can go to appeal for free.

Take their advice and ignor the neighbour.

we had a pre app done by the council before we even put in the full plans, and the council told us the size etc they would allow. 99.9 per cent was passed but got refused because the neighbour said in their objection that our proposed window would look into the ensuite, the council never came out and checked this point and refused it on the privacy thing about the window. I am angry at the council i suppose for not checking. My plans have now been re submitted explaining the distance of the window and the frostd glass etc and i welcome the council to do a site visit to clarify the situation

We had one turned down re parking after we altered our plans to take into consideration their request for parking. I went to appeal the inspector took 5 minutes and emailed back his report in three days granting unconditional planning. We could park 6 cars there at a pinch and we needed parking for two!!

It did take 5 months but it was free, it may be an alternative if you really believe there is no overlooking?

Best of luck, we are going in this year for our new house I'm allowing 12 months to get through.

I think you are taking it personally, when they are probably just trying to restrict any major implications on their own property from your plans for your extension. Where money is concerned friendship has to take a back seat and I would be the same as them if I didn't like your extension - regardless of friendship. Try to be friends and address their concerns if you can - it will make it easier and less uncomfortable all round of everyone is happy

you're wasting your life on this.So you can't have your extension,but is it worth losing good friends because they don't look forward to having their peace of mind disturbed.let it go,it's only a bit of extra bricks and mortar.they must feel awful but they must have felt they had a legitimate complaint,you can,t expect them to just accept what they feel unhappy about.take a great big breath and be the bigger person,send a letter round telling them that you would like to forget all this and get back to the good times you had.life is way too, short and you have to live next to them,you might as well be friends.they had a right to protest after all.sometimes things don't go the way we'd like them to but that's life as they say.if you can do it and get nowhere at least you'll know you tried,good luck.

could you have a conservatory instead? frosted glass is fair enough for a window on their side. other than this i would say 'sc**w them and move instead

> the reason the council refused was because they told the council my proposed side window was right opposite their ensuite window (frosted), which it wouldnt of been, couldnt of looked into the ensuite or whatever,

> i would of even paid for them to have a window that opens in the opposite directions, and i have even said that if the council would let me then i would willingly put a frosted window on the bedroom (not ideal), but would of sorted the issue that they thought we could see in.

Could this be confusion on someone's part? If your proposed window couldn't overlook their ensuite why offer to put in frosted windows or change the way the windows open?

> they said we would be able to look into their ensuite when the window was open (never been open in 10 years but suppose not the point i understand that),
> then they originally said before we fell out that they would probably be moving in a few years anyway

If they want to move it might be harder to sell the house if it's overlooked. The new owners might want to parade around naked with the window wide open.

I totally understand why you're upset but your neighbours have been good in telling you instead of putting in complaints behind your back.

thanks tina s, i already have a conservatory, doing or wanting an extension because we need another bedroom, 5 of us living in a 3 bed house, boys already sharing and running out of room. I would move to a bigger house with the bedroom space but with the fees etc and stamp duty i did think that it would cost more than building another bedroom space

sorry try to explain about the frosted window. they have an ensuite on the side of their house, we put plans in for an ensuite window to be opposite, they never complained about that, the plan was to but the adjoining bedroom window further down the wall and they told the council that it would be this window right opposite and i could look in as their window opens in our direction (hope that makes sense), i first said i would pay to have their window opening the other way, or if the privacy thing was a big thing to them i would be also willing (not ideal) to put frosted in the window further down the wall so no way could they feel overlooked, waiting for the council to come back to me, closing date for neighbour letters is april 17, but the neighbour already emailed me saying they would complain about everything not just the window all over again
i know what your saying as they have been good in telling me, but why say to me that 10 years of friendship was worth more to them than weather an extension is built or not

Have you tried to organise a meeting with your local planning department to try to come to some sort of compromise?  Sometimes a face to face meeting is more satisfactory than letters, 'Phone calls etc.

Poppity - it's extension or move, move not an option because there is no way we could afford the extra money it would cost, so extension was the only option really. It's only extra bricks and mortar but extra space will make a hell of a difference to us. Sorry there is no way i would send a letter or email or anything saying i would like to forget all this etc etc, because firstly i couldnt forget it all, yes it's everyones right to protest i except that and it would make me the bigger person, but never going to happen, we'll be living here forever ignoring eachother. I'll get the extension, my agent has said that because 99.9% was passed it was the issue of the window that swung it to refusal the first time, it's just that they knew we were doing an extension i told them the size and the plans in our heads, then once we paid all the drawing fee and the application fee thats when the turn around and stick a 2 page letter in

Oldilocks - thanks, we have an agent dealing with everything for us - but he did ring me yesterday saying the planning officer may phone me to organise a site visit as they call it. So maybe we can sit down with him and organise something

I hope that you will be able to sort it out loucon, so that you can have your extra space and possibly make up with our neighbour too. Maybe your neighbour could come to your site meeting, the presence of the planning Officer might diffuse the situation..... (shall I duck now?  :)  :) )

Thanks Whistler - my next step is appeal if the application is refused again, although i am hoping that the planning officer comes to site and sees that my proposed window will not be able to look into theirs. I was naive in thinking that the council would of come to site to view any objections not just take the word of someone first as they must deal with non speaking neighbours all the time who could just be saying anything. We have an agent and he said next step appeal because it's free, then if it is still refused then he can see about re drawing and then we will have to pay to put them in again. We'll get there in the end

Oldilocks - i think the planning officer is well used to neighbour disputes, he has said if and when he does a site visit he will go to their house first and then come straight in to see us !!!!! God help him - he'll need the headache tablets that day wont he

Thanks for everyones thought, opinions and comments, i am taking mental note of everything and opinions that are said, as it's always good to have an outsiders view

Also meant to mention aswell, that i thought it was a bit off that she was planning and designing the interior with me, saying oooh you'll have to have this and you'll have to do that, and then put all the objections in

Is there no way you could relocate the position of the window on your extension? Perhaps have it moved to a different wall or have a window that is higher up on the wall so that your view of their property is restricted. Could you have a loft conversion - with the new planning laws some conversions don't need planning permission at all.

Your neighbour may not have thought of the extension devaluing their property until later, or maybe the husband thinks different to the wife, but she's bound to stick by her husband in a dispute.
We have a conservatory which went ahead with no dispute, but then afterwards our neighbour asked us not to open the windows on their side, because they could hear us and we could hear them, and she felt uncomfortable with it (even though we can obviously hear each other when we are in the garden anyway as it is a terrace). We agreed, and never open those windows even though it can get stuffy sometimes, we just felt that we would agree to that rather than have an argument with them over it. So do try to discuss it again as any compromise is worth it if you get your extension but can keep your neighbours friendly(ish).

Hi Harley, had a consult for a loft conversion but height not very good and i think the man said it was cost in region of 30k and might not be happy with outcome without taking roof of and highering the pitch. Would have a higher level window but wouldnt be allowed because for building regs need an escape window no more than 1100 off the floor or something

i would of rather they said to me "well could you do something with that window" rather than go straight to the council etc, they viewed the plans etc and never said to me etc, just told me what they were going to say to the council within the 3 week deadline for objections. they are on the end and in effect dont have another neighbour, small things but i done a few things for them, petty but now no body brings their bins etc and leaves them in the midle of the road and all that, when they went on holiday i looked after their house and post, even phoned me from the airport asking me to pop in the house for something etc - had they come to me and said we dont like the window on the side, i would of obviously said well the room has to have a window because of building regs but what if i put frosted glass in it, she has seen the amended plans and has already told me they will be objecting all over again. Sounding petty, she's had her extension so's not bothered, always been a bit of a i want the bigger better house type. We wont be able to discuss it though because we have cut all communication with them, and hell will freeze over before i talk to them again

It does seem rather strange that a neighbour whom you have known well for 10 years would not just discuss any issues with you personally, instead of just putting an objection straight to the council. If they had worries about privacy they could have perhaps had this resolved just by communicating with you directly. Maybe they really do just object to the idea of your house being bigger than theirs?!  

Honeybee, my thoughts totally, she is a bit of a mrs bouquie (sorry about spelling). I know this story is all one sided, but saying it's like keeping up with the jones - we even bought a bigger car (3 kids), and the month later she went out and ordered the same car in the same colour !

LOL Loucon, we have a major extention about 2 yrs ago but no one put in any objections, however when the work had been completed, my attached neightbour then had new windows, then had a new porch, then had the same blinds as us, then had a new roof tiles (bear in mind non of them needed replacing in the first place) we brought a new mondeo estate - he brought one !!!! I just think some are born to lead others are born to follow.

I am sure what ever your outcome things happen for a reason. I really hope you can resolve your issues and both sides can get what they want. Good luck

i would of rather they said to me "well could you do something with that window" rather than go straight to the council etc, they viewed the plans etc and never said to me etc

This is the real problem isn't it, and the part that would have me feeling much like yourself. Friends aren't supposed to go behind your back, friends are supposed to be able to talk to each other and if they were unhappy or had worries to say so without upset, as real friends don't need to agree on everything and can even get cross and upset with each other, but still sort things out as you are friends.

These friends did none of that, but complained to the council in order to stop your extention, with an explanation of they were complaining to the council not to you?????? Are they not with it?  I would be livid loucon, they would not be my friends either, what they have done is sneaky and horrible. These people are neighbours not your friends.

The frosted glass in the bedroom window should swing the acceptance, but just a thought, difficult when I can't see your plans, but is it possible to have a skylight or glass type frosted roof in this extended part of the house instead of a side window, that would still give plenty of light if not even more and also cause no privacy problems for your neighbours.

Wizaid - that made me smile, sounds so much like here, we converted our garage, then she did, we had a porch done, then she did
Hopefully all will be sorted soon, just some days that's all i think of and it gives me a headache ! Stressed out, and on overload of the rose' wine !!! HA

carrington thankyou, and yes you are on my wave lenght, the amended plan i put in to stop them saying loss of privacy is a frosted window and an additional roof light window to let the natural light in. I hope this swings the councils mind even if they still complain. Not ideal for my daughter to have frosted glass but better than nothing and we then get the bigger bedroom for her that we need. In my eyes i have done what they moaned about and addressed the privacy. She thought she was doing me a favour by telling me what she was going to say to the council rather than ask me if i could do anything with it. You have hit the nail on the head i think in saying these people are not friends just neighbours and sad to say neighbours that i will no longer speak to

coulnt you re-do the plans and move the windows so they dont overlook the neighbous?

it does sound as if they could have discussed it with you at the early stage and let you know their concerns.oh well,i hope it all works out.99.9%should have been enough shouldn't it?it's very awkward for you.

[url=]ithink this is horrible of them, why would so called friends do this, this is the problem with most ppl, if for instance this extension was a metre away from their house blocking everything them i would think it might upset them however they are supposed to be friends and so they should be man enough to tell you rather than the council, for starts if they had told you before you got plans drawn up then you could have amended them and come to some sort of agrement, to me its selfish, i would cut my nose off to spite my face and not speak to them, thats me tho, im not nasty person but i couldnt have someone being this way to me, not when you have been friends for so long, or so called friends [/url]

The problem may be  in the future  for the neighbors if they allow an extension to be erected that might put off new buyers...for instance windows overlooking their garden/living room , or any of their property.. where there was none before.

As someone already said, the planning office wont just reject permission on the grudge of a neighbor.

You may have to compromis on your view out of the windows (glazed) to satify the neighbor.

> She thought she was doing me a favour by telling me what she was going to say to the council

I'm confused. Did she tell you she was going to object and what her objections were before you put the application in? 

Sorry Isabel, told me within the 3 weeks when they chance to object, she told me everything she had emailed the council about it, after months before i had in general conversation told her the size, height etc, if that makes sense, then when i do my plans, pay the fees, etc she waits for the council to send the neighbour letters out and then emails me the same thoughts and says this is what i have told the council

thanks jackbox, hopefully now that i have put the frosted glass in the bedroom window since it was refused on this one point that the council may see that i have addressed the one issue they chose to think about, as the neighbour put tonns of other points in and the council never deemed them worthy then hopefully this one point may be ok with frosted window and roof window/light thing

Hi newf, hard to explain, we live in newish property, well 10 years and all the houses are like a mirror imagine but step back from eachother so they go back in stages down the road. hope this makes sense, they are end house and we are second to end, as we have no more space at side, we are putting extension on back, so this because theirs is stepped back will make ours on line to theirs, as the bedroom window is at the back now and the extension will go across the back and cover it then the proposed window will need to move to the side as nowhere else for it to go. Hope that makes sense. Cos the extension will the be on same level, no loss of light etc. The proposed window will look out onto a brick wall, and further down the wall their ensuite, single frosted glass

I find this odd, in my area extensions are not allowed to have side windows if the overlook another property.

It depends on each individual Councils "Planning Policies".

the way our houses are at the moment some of us have windows facing onto the side, my stair window faces on the side so i can see right into my neighbours kitchen, my bathroom window albeit frosted is on the side facing my neighbour, so i suppose it all depends on the councils policies at the moment