Possible unauthorised development notice

[craikhill]

I have been advised an enforcement officer wants to "clarify" the situation with a visit regarding the building erected in my back garden.
Brief background. I had a garage in the back garden when I bought my house in 1997 (timber frame & asbestos sides and roof) this was taken down circa 2007 due to it deteriorating and in 2017 I rebuilt it using single skin concrete blocks.
I'm not sure as to why they want to visit(other than a sticky beak neighbour) but I was looking for any help if anyone had had a similar experience. It is on the existing concrete base and is more 2 metres from my house. Any ideas please?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Do you have any evidence as to when you built it? As after 4 years it would be immune from any local authority enforcement.

 

[craikhill]

plenty of dated pictures of it being built through to completion

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

planning 4 year rule - Google Search

 

[oldbutnotdead]

Might be a bit high to be PD and that setback at top of fence line looks very ugly. But as said above, if it's been in plain view for more than 4 years council cannot commence any enforcement action so don't worry about it.
If you wanted to (and have the dated evidence to satisfy the 'substantially completed' bit) you could apply for a Certificate of Lawful Development - costs a bit but will shut the (presumed) neighbour complaint down completely.

 

[Old Salt]

Probably want to make sure there are no “illegals” living there.
Any neighbours recently had planning denied?

 

[johnny2007]

Have you got pictures of the old garage that you demolished?
If you rebuilt like for like (more or less), there's nothing wrong with it.
Anyway, 4 years have passed, so unless you have people living in there, there will be no problems.
In London they're cracking down on people renting their illegally converted garages for people to live in them.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Have you got pictures of the old garage that you demolished?
If you rebuilt like for like (more or less), there's nothing wrong with it.

No that's absolutely not right, under the laws of planning once you demolish something it's no longer there and anything built afterwards in its place is new construction and subject to meeting PD requirements or needs PP.

 

[johnny2007]

No that's absolutely not right, under the laws of planning once you demolish something it's no longer there and anything built afterwards in its place is new construction and subject to meeting PD requirements or needs PP.

How would they know it's been rebuilt?
Like for like, after 5 years, as the op built in 2017, there's no chance of getting a demolition order.

 

[Tigercubrider]

Google earth is available to councils as well as bored people “looking over the fence”
not so long ago Thames water ran flights in hosepipe bans to spot unusually healthy lawns.

you would be more dependant on the “it’s been there ages” compared to “replacement”
obviously, Google earth can also drop you in it

 

[JohnD]

you say you used to have a garage.

you haven't got a garage now, you've got what appears to be a habitable building, perhaps an office or a guest annexe.

I'm not surprised if it needs planning permission.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

How would they know it's been rebuilt?
Like for like, after 5 years, as the op built in 2017, there's no chance of getting a demolition order.

Well apparently they do know it's been rebuilt hence their visiting. Besides you said "if you rebuilt like for like (more or less), there's nothing wrong with it" which is not the case. Anyway nobody is doubting it's legality as the 4 year rule has kicked in, provided the LA accept his evidence.

 

[foxhole]

Built my garage to replace existing , neighbours complained but was ok’d by council.

 

[mattylad]

LEt them visit to satisfy themselves that it's not being used as living accommodation and then tell them to do one.