Velux windows and planning

The Bishop Basher

Hi,

A house in front of us and to the left was recently sold. The new owner has put in a major extension at the back consisting of original house on the road, a flat roof section behind followed by a pitch roof section behind that.

The pitch roof has had 2 velux windows fitted that weren't on the plans submitted for planning. The pitch roof is facing the front of hour house.

Can they do this or do I have an option to object ?

I've spoken to the builder but he says he's following the plans however the plans we have don't have any window marked.

Can we do anything and if so who should we complain to ?

Thanks.

cally_lilly

We lookin at doin our attic & we were told we need planning permission if we want to put velux at front but putting them at back of house Dosnt need planning..

kkelliher

Swanner wrote: »

Hi,

A house in front of us and to the left was recently sold. The new owner has put in a major extension at the back consisting of original house on the road, a flat roof section behind followed by a pitch roof section behind that.

The pitch roof has had 2 velux windows fitted that weren't on the plans submitted for planning. The pitch roof is facing the front of hour house.

Can they do this or do I have an option to object ?

I've spoken to the builder but he says he's following the plans however the plans we have don't have any window marked.

Can we do anything and if so who should we complain to ?

Thanks.

Start with discussing any issues you have with your neighbour as you will have to live next to them and its a better approach. You can then always have a chat with the local building control office of your local authority.

sydthebeat

if these are high level windows in the roof of a single storey section, then they will have no impact on you.
Id be surprised if they are low level windows in a first floor room.

The Bishop Basher

kkelliher wrote: »

Start with discussing any issues you have with your neighbour as you will have to live next to them and its a better approach. You can then always have a chat with the local building control office of your local authority.

We've already had discussions with the neighbour and her architect who are siblings. Both myself and 2 other neighbours are extremley unhappy with the build. It's much higher then appeared in the plans, takes light away from 1 neighbour and blocks the treeline view for all of us. All these houses are very close together so the impact is exagerated. The building towers above my immediate neighbour and actually forms the boundry.

We've all spoken to her but obviously nothing can be done about the height at this stage. Our bad. While none of us could forsee it on the plans as it wasn't at all obvious, we should have hired an expert to review it.

Her brother, the architect, seems to have approached this as a pet project and was a little loose with the pen. It's very clearly out of keeping with the area and impacts on all the neighbours. How they got planning i'll never know. We built here 5 years ago and the planning was a nightmare, but for some reason this sailed through.

Anyway, in short, she doesn't care. Good will has been lost already. Her loss. It's a small tight knit community where everyone looks out for eachother.

The builder is friendly and amenable but is just following orders. He's actually apologised on numerous occasions and genuinley feels bad as he can see the impact of the height on everyone. We've continued to accomodate them, letting them build scaffolding in our drive etc. ie. We're not out to be spiteful or cause problems but 2 velux windows facing the front of our house is not acceptable for me given that they weren't on the orginal drawings.

The Bishop Basher

sydthebeat wrote: »

if these are high level windows in the roof of a single storey section, then they will have no impact on you.
Id be surprised if they are low level windows in a first floor room.

It's a dormer build with a high roof so while they are high level they easily overlook the front of and into our house. We don't have a back garden and the front contains a decking area so it feels like privacy has been compromised.

Gumbo

Swanner wrote: »

Hi,

A house in front of us and to the left was recently sold. The new owner has put in a major extension at the back consisting of original house on the road, a flat roof section behind followed by a pitch roof section behind that.

The pitch roof has had 2 velux windows fitted that weren't on the plans submitted for planning. The pitch roof is facing the front of hour house.

Can they do this or do I have an option to object ?

I've spoken to the builder but he says he's following the plans however the plans we have don't have any window marked.

Can we do anything and if so who should we complain to ?

Thanks.

Velux to the rear should not require planning, and any complaints will be invetigated but i assume they will fall under Section 41H and will be exempted works.

cally_lilly wrote: »

We lookin at doin our attic & we were told we need planning permission if we want to put velux at front but putting them at back of house Dosnt need planning..

Bear in mind the velux windows are the little issue when converting your attic, they need to be fire escapable and you need a host of other item in place to comply with Building Regulations for Loft Conversions.

billy100

Velux at the back are allowed without permission,