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Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

External cladding & Planning Enforcement advice

Hi all,

I'm not sure if I'm posting in the right place but I could really do with some advice! We've recently moved in to the area off St Ann's Road and our neighbours have been renovating their property. They've got planning permission to change their house into three separate flats. They've been working at it for about a year now and have now started to replace their cladding.

Initially their cladding was inoffensive and at the same level as ours (Picture one - ours is the house with the wooden door). But I noticed that they took it all back to brick and started adding on huge blocks of polystyrene (which as you can imagine continues to plague our garden). I wasn't sure whether they were allowed to do this as it meant their cladding extends about 5 inches further than ours and just looks completely out of place. 

I tried to ask the neighbour - but he's a landlord and just forwarded my email to his Architect who, let's say, was a bit curt. I called Haringey Planning and they said it's an Enforcement issue and I had to put in a complaint to see if they were allowed or not. 

On January the 11th, I emailed them, genuinely just seeking clarification as to whether this was allowed/not. I received an acknowledgement the next day and details of the planning enforcement officer. Since then, literally nothing. They said he/she would visit by the 26th Jan and I should have an outcome by 10th March. I've been calling pretty much every other day. I've emailed repeatedly. Still, nothing. All I want to know is whether they're allowed to do what they're doing as there's no mention in their planning application about the cladding.

In the meantime, the neighbours have just continued and it looks pretty daft. There's no other boundary on this road where the cladding appears so disjointed (see pics 2 and 3). I put in a complaint yesterday as I still haven't heard anything from the council. I'm worried as clearly the Landlord doesn't care, but it's our house, our area and within months of moving in, we have this...

I wondered if anyone has any experience with this. Are they allowed to do this? How can I get the Planning Enforcement Department to actually have a chat with me or respond to any of my calls/emails. I feel like I'm talking/typing in to the cavernous vacuum of Haringey Council!

Any/all advice would be hugely appreciated. The closer it gets to completion, the less I'm probably going to be able to do about it!

Thanks again.

S

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Permalink Reply by StephenBln on March 31, 2017 at 21:10

Sorry to read this.

It's a pity that so many so-called renovations are not done sympathetically and I can imagine how must be feeling right now.  I guess you were pleased in the beginning that the previous cladding was to be removed. But the doorway situation doesn't look good at all and in the end they are not the ones continually looking at their 'handywork'.

Let's hope by posting this reply, flagging up this post again, someone else might be able to help or offer advice..

Permalink Reply by Sak324 on April 1, 2017 at 11:50

Thanks both - I'm by no means an expert on solid wall insulation, but I know there're a few different types. I presume the Landlord decided on this as it's cost effective and clearly he won't have to worry about the aesthetics. 

Permalink Reply by John D on April 1, 2017 at 11:56

Aesthetics ? Anything is better than fake Cotswold.

Permalink Reply by Hugh on March 31, 2017 at 22:25

I suspect that cladding outside conservation areas is allowed under 'permitted development rights', but it's worth taking real expert opinion on this. The planning portal carries the following reason for hope:

Outside these areas, cladding may be carried out without having to first apply for planning permission provided the materials are of a similar appearance to those used in the construction of the house.

The planning portal is a joint venture between the Department for Communities and Local Government and TerraQuest Ltd.

Have you tried asking one of your councillors to act on your behalf?

Permalink Reply by Sak324 on April 1, 2017 at 11:54

Thanks Hugh.

That's a good point - I hadn't thought of asking any of the Councillors. I'll email and see if they can help.

Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on April 1, 2017 at 8:23
Planning Aid for London may be able to help
http://planningaidforlondon.org.uk
Permalink Reply by Sak324 on April 1, 2017 at 11:55

I'll definitely try here too. Thanks Michael.

Really appreciate the advice from all.

Sakib

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