Your lawn could do with a mow.

Good luck Poopscoop

Loads of mis-infomration so far… and only read page 1.

You really need to read the rest if you’re going to be helpful now. You’ll find out why.

Literally just took this pic!

Those fence panels on the other side look about 12ft high.

:O

^^ I agree @easily, for the last 3 years I hardly go out there and just do the minimum now. No, it’s not right and I even apologised to them about our garden when we were disputing the fence. Not because they brought it up by the way. They dont give a damn but I know the garden should be looked after better and so I apologised. Like I’ve said, I am not used to dealing with people like this. I used to look after THEIR garden when the old neighbour lived there before she sold the place and all her plants were buried under building equipment. Hell, that’s their prerogative though.

Its just depressing to even be out there these days. I get a little panicky just looking out the window at what new surprises are in store.

I’m reminding myself that as annoying as this is, it’s very much a first world problem still.

I’d also not be too happy with the top 4 rows of blocks in that wall sitting unfixed several feet above my garden.

Urgh that wall looks horrible (is there a new picture, I thought you referenced one but I can see it?), I certainly wouldn’t be happy with that. I take it it’s all within his property boundary, seems to go into your a bit based on the older photo but might just be a perspective thing.

Can totally understand why you’d switch to a zero tolerance mode from now on, I’d do the same – although I’d still let the missing chain link fence go unless I actually had a purpose for it

I’ve nothing to helpful to offer now but just wanted to say I’m pleased you’ve stood up to the bully.

That concrete slab next to the breeze block wall, is that something he’s put in or was it there originally, i.e.the balcony. If he’s put it in without planning he’s definitely in trouble (building regs are also important on this such as hand rails etc. I’d get it all reported to the council immediately and let them decide what he has done the he shouldn’t, who knows what he’s done inside that might impact the structure of the neighbouring terraces.

Theres as lot of acro props lying there….

Wonder how many structural engineers have been and drawn up plans…

It is an odd setting for some big new balcony, steps up and with sitting out potential – all overlooking the neighbours and having them stare back at you…

That doesn’t have planning? No danger that doesn’t need planning.

He’s at it for sure.

Poops, the scaffolding in your first photo has seen better days and might have been of interest from an H&S perspective; shame it’s been taken down.
They really are taking the piss; I cannot see any way that’s been passed by your council.
When you contact the council you might want to ask about any/all calcs relating to the foundations – if there are any – for that hideous structure.
This, from Gov technical guidance on permitted development…

Verandahs, balconies and raised platforms are not permitted development and will require planning permission. A veranda is understood to be a gallery, platform, or balcony, usually roofed and often partly enclosed, extending along the outside of a building at ground level. A balcony is understood to be a platform with a rail, ballustrade or parapet projecting outside an upper storey of a building. A ‘Juliet’ balcony, where there is no platform and therefore no external access, would normally be permitted development

Your council should, therefore, have received a planning application and then passed it.
That might be your starting pointing in discussions with the council.

Is that retaining wall on your boundary. Going by the way the replacement fence steps in…… What’s holding that up ? Ie where are the footings…..

Chapaking …

You really need to read the rest if you’re going to be helpful now. You’ll find out why.

Fair enough and I missed frozen sausages and neighbour having (temporarily) backed down after poopscoop did the bastard with bastard…

I think though the main point is make sure you know what is and isn’t fact/legal.
Very specifically don’t rely on what the neighbour/neighbours father says… The link I posted has LOTS of fact by solicitors who specialise in this.

Bullies are bullies and I agree with poopscoop that they put up with too much for too long in the hope to keep the peace but rose tinted 20/20 hindsight glasses are a rare thing…

Some people will as someone else said only respond to conflict… everything else is either showing you are weak or building up ever increasing transgressions.

I guess poopscoop took the inverse approach I did, apologise then say later for letting them get away with so much… I did the opposite but I guess the results are the same.

Either way a real threat to make their life miserable (legally) as option 1 would seem to be the best way to proceed. Sadly it will probably require ongoing maintenance and vigilance but the alternative is being screwed over again and again.

Regarding old and new posts
https://www.hirestation.co.uk/tool-hire/Landscaping/Post-Driver-Hire/140083/
I think if I remember they are 76cm wide… I know I could get one through my standard width doors if I removed the doors and trim…

The link I posted has LOTS of fact by solicitors who specialise in this.

Maybe so but you’d still be even better off with your local planning regulations and building regs at this stage.

Aye, lawyers can do one, local planners IME bloody hate folk taking their own path around the rules. A planner scorned is a fine ally.

Planning can be retrospected though… Building control will require knocking what they have down if it’s as shonky as it looks.

Is that retaining wall on your boundary. Going by the way the replacement fence steps in…… What’s holding that up ? Ie where are the footings

I thought that as well. You can even see where the fence isn’t straight to hide the fact. Assuming he built the wall did you agree to it straddling the boundary (looks like it may even be entirely on your side)?

stumpyjon
Full Member
That concrete slab next to the breeze block wall, is that something he’s put in or was it there originally

Original balcony is only about 1m in width originally in these houses…. He’s extended or a lot.

No idea how good the footings are in that wall and I’m going to guess they extend into our garden. Will have a little dog to see needle I contact council/take pics.

Couldn’t get pics today, daughter been in all day.

Decided to go “low key bastard” approach. Going to go drip, drip, drip with complaints to council and registered letters delivered to neighbour to get a paper trail sorted for notifiable disputes a little down the line when she goes to sell.

I’ve not got the fight to full monty day in day out, 10 years ago possibly but not these days. Have to balance this with other very much more important real world concerns or they truly have won.

I built an extension where my neighbour is that close, we had to make a special L shaped foundation as he did not want us to make any foundations on his side.
Our architect said it was common and planning often insist on it.

Maybe I’m miss interpreting but what is the wall doing. Looks like he’s back filled it(also looking at him laying blocks on their side) in which case it’ll be retaining surely and l shaped footings for a conventional extension need not apply.

Don’t bother with any interaction with the neighbors they are clearly self entitled ****. Just deal with planning/ building regs depts.

local planners IME bloody hate folk taking their own path around the rules.

Next door but one here discovered that to their cost recently. First floor extension went up with non-permitted window over-looking our neighbour. Extended first floor extension went in over a supposedly open sided orangery, this was fully enclosed.

Then a new garage was mooted, followed by another first floor extension. Garage allowed, extension turned down.

Footings for 2 storey extension were laid and garage flank wall built but with a single brick return to the existing wall. Building control turned up and inspected. Builder told to take it down and build without the return. It got to garage roof level and stopped while a planning appeal was put in by an advisor. Finally told to sling his hook by the planners and nothing further has been built.

This is a family that we put ourselves out for to avoid neighbours from hell moving into the adjoining semi and forcing them out. We do wonder how much is enough and when they’re going to contribute to the neighbourhood rather than taking all the time.

They know the planners are coming so he has cleaned up.
How on earth have those fence panels not blown out

Aye, lawyers can do one, local planners IME bloody hate folk taking their own path around the rules. A planner scorned is a fine ally.

Suit yourself but the link gives actual factual advice.
My experience from our borough is planners are worse than hopeless and just do an absolute minimum and quite happily ignore the law or their own SPD’s and NPFF when told to by the council exec.

Ours can’t even be bothered to check the required documents have been submitted.
An example is a developer stating “we have done a daylight survey and it passes”… no actual survey just the developer stating it and presumably a brown envelope.

stevextc – definitely not my experience; planners can be really helpful if you approach them right (pretend) to care about their views etc – or they can be stubborn as hell if you’ve blatantly been ignoring them. Their colleagues in building control even more so.

Ours can’t even be bothered to check the required documents have been submitted.
An example is a developer stating “we have done a daylight survey and it passes”… no actual survey just the developer stating it and presumably a brown envelope.

I think you need to pick your conspiracy theory. Are the lazy and can’t be bothered or are they being given a bung. Either is certainly possible the two are essentially contradictory though why bribe someone who is too lazy to reject you on legitimate grounds.

Not my experience here either. We had a neighbours self built dodgy high wall removed based on height alone. It was no where near what the OP was facing either, it wasn’t on our boundary.

I used to report on plenty of planning issues for local newspapers, always found the planning officers the most helpful and transparent at the council.

It’s the councillors who’re more likely to be bent or incompetent.

My experience of planning is that they are very particular. A neighbours fence had to be taken down because it was above permitted height after a few people raised it with planning.
I also had to do a lot of work to prove that my planning permission granted in 1999 was still in place as work was started by building the first part in 2000. They wouldn’t take anybody’s word for it and had no records on their systems as over 10 years and so on.

I think you need to pick your conspiracy theory. Are the lazy and can’t be bothered or are they being given a bung. Either is certainly possible the two are essentially contradictory though why bribe someone who is too lazy to reject you on legitimate grounds.

The planners are stuck in the middle … they aren’t high enough up to benefit from the brown envelopes but they are in the position of their continued employment being dependent on those who do.

Locally we are in the 2nd year of investigations from internal committee to external to criminal but sadly this just gives more time to shred/delete evidence.

Ironically this happened off the back of a development that paid the planning department for advice and was then endorsed by the head of planning. After the scams, business interests and a £250M unsecured loan/council buying land before permission to sell to developer who is a co-director with the ex CEO of the council… this was rejected 100% by the planning committee.

https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/hundreds-demand-inquiry-former-woking-20765739?fbclid=IwAR3j54C2uKFh5kWkYOpfEPfWsND8cFpThC55au4KAT-9ZAASQI62MuPtIJQ

This is just the tip of the iceberg… the ex-CEO’s listed pub he’d just bought burned down and got planning permission very quickly… he’s a director in the company moved the firestation .. as is the former Director of Legal and Democratic Services, and Monitoring Officer who incidentally decided he had no case to answer as monitoring officer and dismissed a case against himself.

You couldn’t make this stuff up…
As far as I know the head of planning is decent bloke (Benjamin) and I assume he has very explicit verbal instructions what to pass and what not to pass if he wants to keep his job.

If I were in his place I’d be doing the same, do the minimum and avoid leaving evidence .. it’s hardly going to be easy finding another job as head of planning he doesn’t need to move to the other end of the country.

steve, that’s all v interesting but doesn’t help Poops.

Is poops neighbour Benjamin ? Or did I miss the point in all that.

You couldn’t make this stuff up…

Well you certainly could and lots of people do! However, big difference between either legitimate “planning gain” or illegal “bribes” by large developers and one guy building a dodgy balcony without permission. In fact, the one guy stands to get slaughtered to show that they are tough on planning, so the big developers have to play the game too.

If I were in his place I’d be doing the same, do the minimum and avoid leaving evidence .. it’s hardly going to be easy finding another job as head of planning he doesn’t need to move to the other end of the country.

Can probably get a nice line in planning consultancy if he wants – like HMRC staff who become tax advisors etc

frankconway

steve, that’s all v interesting but doesn’t help Poops.

Erm, its my original point… assume you need to understand the legalities yourself.
They might be lucky and their planning dept is on the ball for small scale planning but my experience is the opposite.

It’s not that they are or aren’t competent (ours seems competent but I’m no judge) but that they are civil servants of very limited employability and subject to losing their job and probably critically under resourced to do it properly.

The point of that is OUR planning don’t have time to do anything but a cursory nod to domestic planning… they are being flooded with very complex and high resource planning the brown envelope gang have made promises will be passed even though they break the local DPD’s, land-use and NPFF.

Poly

Well you certainly could and lots of people do! However, big difference between either legitimate “planning gain” or illegal “bribes” by large developers and one guy building a dodgy balcony without permission. In fact, the one guy stands to get slaughtered to show that they are tough on planning, so the big developers have to play the game too.

I was answering that bit … I feel very sorry for our planning dept as they are the ones who get the finders pointed but we (Andy in the newspaper article) have evidence they are deliberately flooded to prevent them having time/resources. This has to wait until the criminal investigation though as this is now the main thrust.

Can probably get a nice line in planning consultancy if he wants – like HMRC staff who become tax advisors etc

Funny you should say that ….
The ex-CEO has already set up his “planning consultancy” company.

steve, thanks for your condescension…

Erm, its my original point… assume you need to understand the legalities yourself.

I have dealt with planning and building control both domestically – conversions and extensions – and professionally and have a sound understanding of the legalities.
Just to help you understand – your comments about your personal and local experience with planning are of no help to Poops in resolving his problem.
You might as well have pointed him to Rotten Boroughs in Private Eye for examples of illegal/inappropriate behaviour by councils.
The thread title asks for ‘Informed advice please’; it wasn’t an invitation for your diatribe about your dissatisfaction with your local planning department.

The thread title asks for ‘Informed advice please’; it wasn’t an invitation for your diatribe about your dissatisfaction with your local planning department.

But this is the supertwatworld forum, people make posts, everybody piles in with opinions, facts, how it relates to them, how other people are wrong, random anecdotes, sometimes even useful information!

Sometimes there is interesting dialogue, sometimes its drivel, often makes entertaining reading.

So did you speak to the planning dept yet Poopy?

chakaping
Full Member
So did you speak to the planning dept yet Poopy?

There’s only an email contact according to their website mate. So, the details they request (plus pics they don’t request) have been sent. See what happens.

Hope you get a favourable response.

Getting quite invested in this now.