u/Schlurff

Hi HousingUK,

A planning application has gone up several months ago for a plot of two garages with one driveway to be turned into a three storey house. This is right next door to my leasehold maisonette. I open my front door and the garages are right there so this would be severely overlooking my garden and property.

The proposed development also intends to demolish some old coal sheds belonging to my freeholder which are connected to the garages. Freeholder has also objected but is a very wealthy landowner and very hands off in terms of his properties.

I have made my comments on the application and distributed information to several neighbours who have also objected to the proposed planning permission as our road is full of maisonettes, the parking is atrocious, and with several garages on the road in this way, we were worried it would set a precedent for more infill properties being developed and reducing the parking on the road.

The determination date was several months ago and the application is still pending. It's not being refused or granted but I would like an update as I assume the council may have told the developer to re-do plans potentially to make them passable.

I have attempted about 6-7 times to get in touch with the council including emailing the head of planning directly and my requests for a response have been ignored. I'm not really sure how to kick up a fuss about this as the plans are quite egregious in what they are proposing, it has severely underestimated the amount of space available including some outright lies, saying there is space for two cars when you could barely get a small hatchback on that plot. There are no three storey properties on the street and it just would be incredibly overbearing on the surrounding maisonettes. One maisonette would have their entire kitchen window blocked by this development.

I have just recently moved in so not really able to move but this is really just making me tear my hair out at the thought that common sense won't be able to prevail here. These garages are so small so you won't be able to do all the required things of having parking, space for your bins and all the regulation things the council requires as part of conversion of properties.

Does anyone have any recommendations of what to do. I worry if I just sit tight and do nothing, I won't be able to do all I can to object these plans.

I am in England.