If you’ve had an application for planning permission rejected, this can be a stressful time no doubt. However, it’s important to remain calm and remember that there may still be a way you can have your dream conservatory built.
In this blog post, we’ll go over some of the most common reasons for conservatory planning permission being rejected, and we’ll also touch on the steps you can take to resolve the matter.
The Planning Permission Process
If you’ve already applied for planning permission then chances are you’ll know all about the process, but for those who are yet to make an application, this should be useful.
In most cases, district councils or local authorities deal with planning permission applications. So when you make an application, this is who you’ll need to deal with.
They assess applications based on a specific, including the size, position and design of the proposed conservatory. These decisions are in step with national and local planning policies and the decision makers will consider the impact on neighbouring properties and the local environment.
If the application concerns a property within a conservation area then this will also be considered.
Common Reasons for Refusal
Here are some of the most common reasons for applications being knocked back.
Exceeding Size And Height Limits:
In many cases, local authorities set size and height limitations for conservatories and extensions. If your conservatory applications exceed these size or height limitations then it could well be refused.
The reasons these limitations are in place is local authorities feel a construction may obstruct neighbours’ views. Keep in mind that while this may be your land and you may feel you should be able to build what you like, if your conservatory is significantly impeding your neighbour’s view or causing a nuisance to them, this isn’t really fair is it?
If this is the reason for your application being refused then hopefully reducing the size of your proposed construction should get the green light you’re looking for.
Overlooking Neighbour Concerns:
This one sort of follows on from the last point, but it’s important to point out that even if your conservatory is within the size and height limitations, if it’s likely to cause severe disruption to neighbours then it may still be rejected.
If you neglect to address or mitigate concerns raised by neighbouring properties, such as loss of privacy or overshadowing, again this could lead to your refusal.
If neighbouring properties have raised issues then it’s important you do all you can to address these concerns. Try to work with your neighbours to forge a compromise or this could put a real dent in your plans.
Contravening Guidelines:
If you live in an area where the local architecture has a specific style then this could make getting planning permission for certain types of conservatories difficult. In this situation, to give yourself the best chance of being approved, try to ensure your conservatory design follows the same style of neighbouring properties.
Likewise, if you live in an area where conservation is a concern then this could also prove problematic. In this situation, your best bet would be to speak to the local authorities to see if and how a resolution can be found.
Environmental Impact:
If your proposed conservatory could impact protected wildlife habitats, drainage systems or have an adverse effect on the environment, this might see planning permission refused.
Failing to Comply With Planning Policies:
Before you made your application, did you take into consideration the many local and national planning policies that are in place?
If not and your application fails to conform to these policies, then this could well be the reason for your refusal. Before you apply, you need to take into consideration policies such as greenbelt protection or flood risk considerations, as these can have a major impact on your success.
Options After Refusal
If your application has been refused then this can be a stressful situation for you. However, fear not as there are some steps you can take to hopefully get the decision overturned.
Read Over The Decision:
If you’ve received a letter from local authorities telling you your application was unsuccessful, they should give their reasons. If not, or the reasons given aren’t clear, contact them and ask for clarification over their decision.
If you’re going to update your application in the hope of getting a better outcome, you’re going to need to know why they’ve rejected you in the first place, so the first step is always to get a good understanding of the local authorities’ decision.
Review And Amend the Application:
Once you understand why they came to their decision, you can revisit the initial application, addressing the specific reasons for refusal.
By modifying the plans and ensuring they conform to the rules and policies your local authorities have in place, this may well lead to a successful re-application.
Appeal the Decision:
If your plan doesn’t contravene any rules or policies the local authorities have in place and you feel the decision to reject your application is wrong, rather than change your design you may wish to appeal instead.
This involves presenting additional information or arguments to overturn the initial decision. Your success will depend on whether you’re able to convince them their original decision was incorrect or unjustified.
Consult a Planning Consultant:
If the application starts to get weighed down by complex legal issues, seeking professional advice from a planning consultant or architect can help simplify the process.
Unless your case is especially complex then this may be unnecessary, but it’s an option nevertheless.
In less complex cases when all that’s needed are some amendments to your design, if you need a team of experts to help you with your planning permission application, speak to us as we’d help people in your position all the time.
Seek A Compromise:
If your rejected application relates to neighbours having concerns, you might find that engaging in constructive dialogue with planning authorities or affected could help you come to the compromise you need to get your conservatory built.
So those are the main reasons why your planning application may have been rejected, as well as what you can do to try to change the decision.