Planning permission for a roof terrace? Post Reply

[MrsOctober]

Hello

I have a garden flat and the owner of the flat upstairs has just put in planning permission for a loft conversion with roof terrace. The project includes 2 sets of French doors with juliet balconies (guardrails) and a third set of french doors onto a small roof terrace - all of which overlook my previously private rear garden.

We are about to object but I was wondering if anyone has any experience of trying to get one approved, or objecting to one etc. What's Wandsworth's general policy regarding overlooking and privacy. When we did a loft conversion on our house we were flatly told that Wandsworth did not allow roof terraces or balconies due to overlooking issues, and a juliet balcony was the most we could hope for. If we weren't allowed a balcony overlooking our own garden, it seems bonkers that someone would be allowed to build one overlooking someone else's. Any thoughts/opinions gratefully received.

Meanwhile, can anyone recommend a brilliant party wall surveyor? Thanks.

[marmitelover]

Hi
This won't be much help to you but we've just completed a loft extension complete with a roof terrace so it certainly isn't a flat-out refusal. The council restrict the size to one deemed too small to have a party on (10m squared), and permission is contingent on building a pretty high balustrade which obscures the view (so frosted glass), but other than that we got our permission very easily. It depends on how your flat and theirs are configured.

Best way to object is via loss of privacy due to overlooking and it being 'out of character' with the existing building. Wandsworth are generally fairly permissive I think though.

Best party wall surveyor is Delva Patman Redler - Redler wrote all the textbooks! - but they charge £300 an hour ...

[magnificentseven]

To object read WDC's planning guidelines (Wandsworth Housing_SPD__adopted_Dec_2012__low-res_web) and object along their guidelines and points. Just because you dont like it isnt good enough - you must have valid reasons. Rope in any neighbours you can and your councillors. If you present a good valid argument, you may win the day ! (This advice is of course no help to me as I want to ask for one, but c'est la vie.....)

[pie81]

I've seen a few roof terraces around with a high frosted glass "fence" around them as described above. So I wonder if that's a fairly common wandsworth solution to overlooking complaints.

MrsOctober, would you be ok with the terrace if they put up a high frosted glass barrier so they couldn't see you in your garden?

[Tigger]

Seriously?

You're going to object to someone having a tiny roof terrace in their flat so that they can enjoy at least some semblance of outside space in the middle of London because they might overlook your garden? How selfish. We live in a huge cosmopolitan city where EVERYONE is overlooked in one way or another. May I suggest that if you are that bothered by people having views over your garden (shock, horror!!) they perhaps you should move to the country.

Rant over.

[MrsOctober]

Marmitelover, Magnificent7 and Pie81, thank you for all your comments. Just what I was after; helpful, insightful, thought provoking. I have only just received the plans and they are not detailed enough to establish the exact size of the terrace nor do they include any details of screening etc. so I feel I have to raise my concerns now in order to open a dialogue, find out more and ensure some restrictions are imposed re. size,screening etc.
I guess I wouldn’t object if, like you say, the screening is high enough to prevent a line of sight into my garden from the terrace. And if the terrace is restricted in size so that it’s not a party space, which would obviously have a huge impact on the occupants of my flat and all the neighbours.

Tigger, a little harsh?
Firstly, you said “You're going to object to someone having a tiny roof terrace in their flat” – You’ve inserted the word ‘tiny’ to boost your argument, but where on earth did you get that it was ‘tiny’? It’s certainly not ‘tiny’.
You also said that in London “EVERYONE is overlooked in one way or another” – I did say that this particular garden is private. It is not overlooked by anyone at the moment, unless you count passengers in aeroplanes. A garden like that in London is really, really special. It’s one of the main reasons I bought the flat and I want to protect that. Sorry. Perhaps if you had a completely private space you would want to keep it that way too? The plans also include replacing two small sash windows with two large sets of French doors with guardrails which will doubtless be open in good weather, allowing everyone inside those rooms to gaze down on us. We just feel that TWO Juliet balconies AND potentially the roof terrace suddenly overlooking a previously secluded garden, is a bit much.

[MrsOctober]

Huge thanks to you too, Mungomuffit. I didn't see your post when I wrote my last one.

[AlisonH]

Did you get a party wall surveyor recommendation? Simon Price of Price Partnership - 0207736 7311

[webfountainwebdesign]

Hi

Another recommendation for Simon Price at Fulham based Price Partnership
http://www.pricepartnership.co.uk

email: info@pricepartnership.co.uk

tel: 020 7736 7311

[ClaphamSurveyor1]

Hi

I am an experienced party wall (Chartered) surveyor based in Clapham Old Town and Southwark. I would be happy to discuss your proposals and run through the whole process with you. If you can PM me I will respond by return. Many thanks.

[Vhopeful]

Personally I would object and we did when our neighbours submitted plans for a rood terrace without ever talking to us. Thee outdoor space was going to be at the same level as our children's bedroom very close to their bedroom so really would of been a noise nuisance. In the end our neighbours removed the terrace from there plans as all the surrounding neighbours also objected.
sorry to say that people buy upstairs flats knowing they have no outside space so I wouldn't feel sorry for them. Don't people have to pay a premium for ground floor flats for just this reason