One of WEN’s members is keen to raise awareness about the government’s proposed changes to planning laws to allow larger back garden extensions without needing permission. It’s a topic that’s certainly got a number of local councils stirred up and could affect local residents.
He writes ‘The government plans to change Planning laws so that your neighbour can build a 6-metre extension 4 metres high without needing any permission from anyone – least of all from you.
This may be fine for cabinet ministers who live in spacious areas. But 80% of us live incities, where small gardens provide most of the green space. In our terrace, the back gardens are 12 metres long. Half your neighbour’s garden gone – perhaps on both sides of you? Plus separate outbuildings, if they choose? And you’ll get no protection from Planning laws that used to protect you from overbearing, dominating, character-destroying developments. The government wants this to happen!
The government’s consultation period ends 24 December. We need all our friends across the country to say what they think of this proposal. You can reply online at this location:
www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/extendingpdrconsultation
or you can write to Helen Marks via e-mail:
PlanningImprovements@communities.gsi.gov.uk
or on paper:
Helen Marks
Permitted Development Rights – Consultation
Department for Communities and Local Government
Zone 1/J3 Eland House
Bressenden Place
London SW1E 5DU
Tell your MP and David Cameron and Eric Pickles what you think. And get your friends across the country to do the same – or we could all find ourselves in concrete jungles.’
Download this page at kevinraftery.net/attack.pdf