nige2008

Hi, I phoned the planning office again and was told that the telegraph pole would have to be moved and that I would need to be able to create off road parking for two vehicles. I was then advised to check the Unitary Development Plan for my area at the council website. I've done that now and it says that I'm H3 / EC3 , this looks ok to me as it's the same as the two houses that have just been built 3 doors up. Off road parking could be created to the rear of the property so the telegraph pole seems the main hurdle. My property as it is I would say could be worth 80k or 85k finished it would be near the 110k or 115k , with OPP the plot could be worth 25k or 30k and a finished new house on the plot could be worth again 110k or 115k. I figured that if I could manage to get OPP that I would go to auction and put a reserve of 100k. I've left my number with the planning office and they said they would phone me back on Monday morning so I hope to arrange a meeting with them soon and I was told they would do a site visit also. I asked about the two new builds 3 doors up and asked if planning permission was easier for them because there were houses previously there. The answer was no, because the houses were derelict it makes no difference. Thanks for all the other advice, I've noted it all and will see how it goes from here ... nige2008

Thanks for all the replies. I phoned the planning office 3 days ago to ask for a pre app discussion but was told that I could send a small map by email (same as the map I posted here) and that a planning officer would get back to me. I still haven't had a reply yet so maybe the email address didn't work. As I haven't done anything like this before I don't know who's side the planning officer would be on. after talking on the phone they sounded helpful and I have heard that it is quite a good are for getting planning approved. also with the housing shortage I would have thought that it's best for the council (with added rates etc from a new house) to want new properties built. Would they make it hard for me or what? It's probably different depending on the area I suppose. The problem I see is that the neighbors would involve the councilor as they do and I have heard they they sometimes get together and petition against things! Anyway, would it be best for me to try to get OPP for a new house or should I try for an extension onto the existing property? I imagine it would be a lot easier to get it for the latter but I also imagine that OPP for a new house would add a lot more value to the land if I sell. If I made an application it would cost me £312 so an appeal would put it up to £624, a lot of money to lose but well worth it if I got the OPP. If do decide to sell I have thought that the best way would be through auction and that I could advertise the property to as many free sites on the internet, as it is a very nice country location perfect for either a builder or someone wanting to move to the country with money to invest in the place. Has anyone got any advice on the best way forward for me? Thanks nige2008

Hi, there's no development proposals for the area and the 3rd and 4th houses up from my one are new builds. They were started on about 2 years ago and still aren't quite completed yet but there were houses previously there as far as I'm aware. I've always thought that I could extend my property to the side which would take virtually the same area of land as a new house. And my neighbor has also told me that he could get planning permission for an extension to his property which is similar to mine.

Hi, I bought a cottage back in September 2003 but the neighbors have always seemed prejudice towards me. I love the area but the last straw for me was when I went over to have a chat with one of my neighbors, when my cat came along and sat down a few feet from us. next thing my neighbor calmly picked up a brick (full not half brick) and threw it at my cat. If the cat didn't move as quick as it did it would have been hit in the face. After this he declared that he hates f'ing cats and carried on with our conversation as if nothing had happened. I've taken my cats away from the area now because I don't want them near him. Since that I haven't been back there myself since 17th Nov. I haven't finished renovating the property but feel I just want to get away from there now. I have built a big 10ft x 15ft shed and done a lot to the garage - new doors etc. Anyway my question is about planning, to the side of my house there is enough land to build a new house, if I got the planning permission would this add much to the value if I sold it? The house has been half gutted inside and the drainage is blocked outside. If I auctioned it as it is maybe I would get 70 or 80k, any idea how much more a builder would pay with added outline planning? can anyone give my any information about the planning process, there is a big telegraph pole in front of the land, apart from that I don't think there are any underground pipes or anything. I imagine that the neighbors will be against it and that they will involve the local councilor and he has told me personally that he stopped someone else's planning application in the past. I've attached a map of my house and boundary with the proposed new house in yellow. Thanks in advance Nige2008