Newport City Council Approves House Extension Despite Neighbour’s Privacy Concerns

Plans for a new house extension have won Newport City Council’s approval after a neighbour complained it could lead to a loss of privacy and light.
The objector said the proposals for a larger first floor at 12 Farnaby Close would have “a significant and detrimental impact” on their property and “quality of life”.
The extension would “cast additional shadow over my garden and rear-facing rooms, particularly during the afternoon and evening”, they said – adding the loss of daylight would “materially affect my enjoyment and the usability of my home”.
But council planners disagreed – case officer Ben Webster told the local authority’s planning committee the proposed extension would be “in keeping with the scale and form of the host dwelling”.
“The concerns raised relate to a loss of light, loss of privacy, and the potential overshadowing of the rear garden,” he said. “It is unclear why the complainant considers the works described would do so over and above the existing footprint of the main dwelling.”
Mr Webster said studies showed “no reason to consider the proposed first-floor extension would cause shadowing” for the objector’s garden.
On privacy concerns, he added the existing windows at the applicant’s home were already closer to the complainant’s property than the new ones proposed.
Members of the committee voted unanimously in favour of granting planning permission, subject to conditions.
The application, by David Perry, also included a request for retrospective permission to convert a front garden area into a parking “plateau” for two vehicles. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​