Terraced house, architect neighbours moved in, concerned they want to extend and overlook the garden. Things to look out for?

[B@Th*nG]

We live towards the end of a Victorian terrace on a slope, so the neighbours garden is higher than ours. There's been a change of ownership and we've learned they're architects. They moved in a few days ago and something they said today set alarm bells ringing regarding their plans for a possible extension.

There's currently a half width extension in their garden, on the opposite boundary, which is a kitchen, and has views towards our garden and the city - this is fine, there's half a garden between us and them and this setup is pretty ordinary in a terrace. However, following the conversation today I get the feeling they want to extend to full width and still maintain the same view down into the city, meaning their window will be on our boundary, would give them full view of our garden and my partner's office, and we're concerned about our privacy. Given their profession we don't want to miss a step here and would like to know if there's anything we should keep an eye out for, planning wise, in case we wanted to object? I already know there's a rule of 45°, so if they can see into your house that far then it fails being granted automatic permission (which you get in Bristol for a full width 3m extension) but I imagine, with their knowledge of the industry, there are tricks of the trade I haven't considered.

Does anyone have any advice or can tell me if there's anywhere I should be looking for planning requests or can tell me if I'm just being paranoid? Haha. It's our first home so I'm not sure about these things. I don't care if they want to build an extension I just don't want it to have a view into our garden/house. Thanks!

 

[sither]

Nothing you can do

 

[B@Th*nG]

Nothing you can do

Even if it's a window right up against our boundary and, because it extends further than our house, looks into our dining room/kitchen?

Can I put a fence up? Can I grow bamboo? Do you have some experience in this area?

 

[sx_turbo]

The 45 degree I'm sure is to do with light blocking not whether they can view your garden or not, as pretty much all houses can look into someone's garden.

On a terrace house it's uncommon for a double story full width extension due to this.

Most likely they will have a full width ground floor extension which shouldn't affect you.

 

[B@Th*nG]

The 45 degree I'm sure is to do with light blocking not whether they can view your garden or not, as pretty much all houses can look into someone's garden.

On a terrace house it's uncommon for a double story full width extension due to this.

Most likely they will have a full width ground floor extension which shouldn't affect you.

But they are above us, as we're on a slope. The ground floor window would directly overlook the garden and into our kitchen/diner

 

[CapitalOne]

Plant a hedge if you’ve got the room surely

 

[sx_turbo]

But they are above us, as we're on a slope. The ground floor window would directly overlook the garden and into our kitchen/diner

You might be able to stop it on the possibility of light being blocked into your kitchen diner then if that's the case.

If you plant a hedge (I'd advise against bamboo as it goes mental if the roots aren't contained by some form of liner), then that argument would be null and void so think carefully.

 

[B@Th*nG]

There's decking in this location, so no opportunity to plant anything, but were I to put tall potted plants in would this be an issue?

 

[sx_turbo]

There's decking in this location, so no opportunity to plant anything, but were I to put tall potted plants in would this be an issue?

I'd wait till they put in for planning, if you put tall bushes in now whether in pots or not your only current defence of light into your property will be null and void.

The council won't refuse permission because the window is facing your property, they'll just tell them to move or remove the window all together.

As the building already has an extension I'm pretty certain another extension cannot be done under permitted development

Also can they not already see into your house and garden from the existing kitchen window? Victorian terrace gardens don't tend to be particularly wide or long.

 

[darael]

Plant a nice row of Leylandii trees on your side of the fence, which will eventually form a hedge and grow many meters high.

Refuse any requests from your neighbours to cut the trees down or trim them. That's what all householders with Leylandii seem to do, even when their trees seem to reach in excess of 15 meters.

 

[Derek W]

Take a look on your local planning portal. There should be planning advice notes in what you can and can't do. I'd doubt very much that planning anywhere would allow direct overlooking to your garden for anything new. Up here you certainly can't plus if it's up against the boundary the chances it would have to be fire rated fixed glass but again the overlooking side of things would come into it as well

 

[alexakasloth]

Even if it's a window right up against our boundary and, because it extends further than our house, looks into our dining room/kitchen?

Can I put a fence up? Can I grow bamboo? Do you have some experience in this area?

Fence - upto a certain height within permitted development.

Bamboo/tree - yes.

Seems like you know how it will affect you so just pick a nice looking plant, or trellis with some sort of climber to provide privacy and enhance your garden.

 

[Scam]

Is it likely they’ll want windows on the side? Most terraced extensions just go for the big bifold doors at the rear. Can’t see any reason to put windows/doors at the side as that’s presumably where they’ll want kitchen cabinets etc. Not to mention they’d get blocked if you did your own full width extension

We have a similar sounding half width kitchen, neighbours have a full width extension so we have a sort-of alley out of our new back door. No windows on theirs, no fence either, we just look at their wall which is painted white. When we’ve redesigned the garden we’ll grow plants up it etc and it’ll look really nice.

Hard to judge what you’re worried about without pics. But I really can’t see how they’d be allowed to put windows directly looking over your fence into your garden.

Perhaps best to keep chatting to them, find out a bit more.

 

[mid_gen]

Do you know what their plans are? Try and talk to them.

We're in a terrace, and next door did exactly what you're describing. Their half width flat roof extension was converted into a full width lower story with a pitched roof and skylights, with a dormer extension partway out on top, with a window looking out the rear. No different in terms of privacy to what was there before.

It's likely they won't want you looking straight into their extension any more than you want them looking into your property.

 

[B@Th*nG]

The reason for the side window is for the view. Out the back it's just a view of their garage, out the side, because the house is at the top of a hill, it has a great view over the city

 

[gc123]

make sure you keep an eye on things like local planning notices etc... old house we lived at next door was a lovely retired couple , there neighbours on the other side mentioned about a extension, said they were going to have a conservatory.
they just accepted on face value what they were told.
we moved shortly after, but when we visited them a couple of years later,.oh what a difference, the extension had been built it was part conservatory , but the boundary next to them was a solid brick wall monstrosity. literally when you looked out of there dining room window it was like a tunnel all on the right side was dark brick.
they tried to complain but was told by the council it was too late.

 

[Semple]

Is it likely they’ll want windows on the side? Most terraced extensions just go for the big bifold doors at the rear. Can’t see any reason to put windows/doors at the side as that’s presumably where they’ll want kitchen cabinets etc. Not to mention they’d get blocked if you did your own full width extension

We have a similar sounding half width kitchen, neighbours have a full width extension so we have a sort-of alley out of our new back door. No windows on theirs, no fence either, we just look at their wall which is painted white. When we’ve redesigned the garden we’ll grow plants up it etc and it’ll look really nice.

Hard to judge what you’re worried about without pics. But I really can’t see how they’d be allowed to put windows directly looking over your fence into your garden.

Perhaps best to keep chatting to them, find out a bit more.

I'd have thought this too, plus velux windows if it's single story.

In reality though, if they want to extend and they'll know what will and won't get past planning permission, there's very little you'll be able to do.

 

[DXP55]

deleted -off topic. Sorry

 

[Steeps]

Any side window overlooking someone else's land in such a way should have to be frosted glass, defeating the purpose of having a window there. The only way they could attempt to get around it would be a high up window where it wouldn't be possible for an average person to look down through.

If it does go to planning and your only objection is a request for the glass to be frosted, it shows that you're trying to find a solution to your privacy while not interrupting the space and light they want to build.

 

[Scam]

Any side window overlooking someone else's land in such a way should have to be frosted glass, defeating the purpose of having a window there. The only way they could attempt to get around it would be a high up window where it wouldn't be possible for an average person to look down through.

Yeah from the description I'm imagining something like this, not sure if you'd be allowed that sort of side window overlooking someone's garden even if it's frosted though?

But surely they'd just do something like this with rooflights/velux? https://images.app.goo.gl/SKjeur96eLCq4LK8A

OP just needs to make friends with the neighbours. If they're architects they're probably going to win any argument based solely on "what is allowed" so your best bet anyway is getting in their good books and persuading them to do something that is fairer for you.