House extension built too large, claim neighbours

NEIGHBOURS have complained that an extension to a house in Peppard is bigger than allowed.

Ridvan Recica and Shaheen Khan were granted planning permission in 2020 to remove the front bay and alter the roof at their home in Shiplake Bottom and build a two-storey side and rear extension with a loft conversion.

Now they have applied to amend the original plans to reduce the size of the rear extension to avoid impacting on the public footpath and to build masonry boundary walls instead of retaining the dilapidated wooden fencing.

But other residents claim the work that has already been done contravenes the original consent granted by South Oxfordshire District Council, the planning authority.

Keith Floodgate, who lives in nearby Sedgefield Close, said: “While initially supportive of a development of an old property, we strongly object to this development as it has progressed.

“The description of ‘loft conversion’ does not describe what is now in place — the property is substantially larger and taller than before, giving the occupants completely unhindered views into every room in the rear of our house on both floors despite our property being ‘uphill’. The removal of the mature trees in the rear garden of the property has only made this worse.”

He said the value of his property had been reduced as a result.

“We have suffered contraventions of permitted noise and permitted working hours throughout this building project and now have this property looming in the eyeline from every part of the rear of our house and garden,” said Mr Floodgate.

“This development has substantially differed and grown from the initially submitted plans.”

Mr Harrison, also of Sedgefield Close, said: “The property is oversized in all dimensions for the plot and the height is totally out of kilter with the adjacent properties.

“Mature trees camouflaging the original property were cut down with no planning consent, exacerbating the invasion of privacy.”

He claimed the extension deviated from the original plans and encroached on the footpath.

“It looks awful and potentially obstructs wheelchair users or people with disabilities from using the path,” said Mr Harrison. “It has created an intimidating dark corridor at night. They have cut down trees without consent, changed the size of the property, developed into the loft; they have made a mockery of the district council planning process.

“In addition, the builders have continually worked over bank holidays and weekends beyond what is given as guidance by the district council.”

Karin Elliot, of Newfield Road, said: “The newly built property boundary crosses on to the public path and impinges by about 25cm to 30cm at its peak, effectively taking public land.

“The application and build have not aligned. The current build impinges on the public right of way along the pathway.

“We have complained to the district council already about many aspects of this build, how it has been managed, the removal of trees, the overbuild of the house, the extra build up by 28cm into the room which now overlooks and dominates even the church next door.”

Mr Racica, 39, denied the neighbours’ claims.

He told the Henley Standard: “I don’t know where they got this information from but all the sizes are correct other than making the extension smaller towards the footpath. The original application was going to step into the footpath so we pushed it back. Maybe that’s where the confusion is.

“I wouldn’t put hard-earned money into this if there was a risk of having problems in the future.

“We can’t overbuild — it’s the UK, not a third world country. We’re not millionaires and it would be a big risk because if we were caught — we would have to demolish everything.

“Whoever said anything, we can meet personally and get out the tape measure and plans and they will be able to see it for themselves.

“We had an enforcement officer come round in November who was concerned but they had a look at it and said it was fine.”

A district council spokeswoman said: “A new planning application has been submitted which seeks a variation of an approved planning permission.

“We are aware that works have been undertaken that are not in accordance with the original planning permission. We will assess this new application in accordance with national and local planning regulations and policy.”

Peppard Parish Council has recommended approval.

The district council is due to make a decision by next Friday.