Planning permission can cause a divide between even the friendliest of neighbours.

If you think their building plan could hurt your property, you’re likely to be upset and may want to object.

Reasons can include invasion of privacy or the amount of light you get in your home. It could even threaten the amount of parking in the area or reduce accessibility.

Here is all you need to know about planning permission disputes.

How the process works

According to Which.co.uk, every planning application that a local authority gets has to have a period of public consultation.

This can be anything between three and eight weeks long.

Can someone object?

Naturally, you might want to object if the plans damage nearby trees. Or if you think the design is out of character for the neighbourhood, then that is also a reasonable thing to think.

If your neighbour needs planning permission, the planning officer should write to tell you a planning application has been made.

You can then study the plans and raise objections. The planning officer will take your objections into account when they decide whether to grant planning permission or not.

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When you need planning permission

To find out if your project will need planning permission, contact your local planning authority (LPA) through your local council.

You’ll probably need planning permission if you want to:

  • build something new
  • make a major change to your building, such as building an extension
  • change the use of your building

Applying for planning permission

To apply for planning permission, contact your LPA through your local council.

If your project needs planning permission and you do the work without getting it, you can be served an ‘enforcement notice’ ordering you to undo all the changes you have made.