Neighbours raise concern about bid to build new house three inches from their home
PLANS to build a new house just three inches away from a neighbouring property could be approved by councillors this week, despite concerns raised by the owners of the house next to the development site.
The Jesus Army has applied to Northampton Borough Council for permission to build a four bedroom, communal house in Hester Street, Semilong.
The house would be built just three inches away from a neighbouring detached house.
The owners of the neighbouring property have told the council that building two houses with gable ends so close to each other would make maintaining both properties extremely difficult.
But in a report which will be seen by the council’s planning committee tomorrow, council planning expert, Geoff Wyatt, said the tiny gap between the two properties would not be a problem.
He said: “Although the separation distance is relatively minimal, it is considered that a more substantial gap would impact on the continuity of the street scene.”
He also said the new house would not harm the Jesus Army’s other property in the street, which also neighbours the development site, as a gap of almost 10ft would be left on that side of the new property.
Recommending councillors approve the plans, he added: “The siting, design and appearance of the building will compliment the existing street scene without being detrimental to residential amenity and highway safety.”
Residents of Hester Street have also raised concerns that the new house would have no parking spaces. But Mr Wyatt said the fact it would be used in conjunction with the Jesus Army’s current building would ‘reduce dependency on the private car’.
He also pointed out the site was close to shops and the town centre, adding: “As the site is in a very sustainable location being next to a bus route and close to local shops and the town centre, the proposed occupiers would not need car ownership.”
Members of the borough council’s planning committee will make a final decision tomorrow on whether the development should go ahead.
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Comments
There are 19 comments to this article
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Finker
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 04:22 PMLadyM, if the wall is protected from the weather what maintenance is needed. As well as planning all buildings need to get approval from building control which includes access to drains etc etc If we can put men on the moon something like this is not really that hard to sort. Most cities would look very different if every building had to be two metres appart.
jimorourke
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 02:16 PMThis has to be the daftest planning decision I have ever heard of .
jimorourke
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 02:11 PMHow will the existing house owner get access to his painted brick wall to repaint as necessary? Likewise there must be reasonable access to the rainwater or drainpipes from roof level which presumably run down the side of the wall and flow into a drain at the side of the house. There must be space allowed for unblocking pipes or drains, including blocked gutters. There must be a more reasonable gap of at least two metres.
lady muck
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 08:30 AMFinker...but how will the wall be maintained ?
Finker
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 12:15 PMEither that or I guess they could do it on a wing and a prayer considering the specific nature of the job.
Finker
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 09:13 AMOf course you can build this close, how do you think they manage to get buildings so close together in towns and cities and rebuild them all the time? The party wall act does apply as it covers works that affect nearby foundations, that doesn't mean it can't happen, just that it has to be designed and built properly.
lady muck
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 08:43 AMWagTheDog...I agree...normally the building line is set at 1 metre from the boundary...giving a total of 2 metres between houses. the Planning Officer seems to have decided that 'the continuity of the stree't over-rides these considerations.I assume that when the first house was built right up to the boundary, the supposition was that the adjoining house would be erected using the end wall as a party wall.
WagTheDog
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 12:09 AMThree inches cannot be legal. Things to be considered: 1. Encroachment and disturbance of the existing foundations. 2. Insufficient ventilation at ground level to prevent build up of dampness. 3. Too close proximity to prevent spread of fire. 4. Prevention of access to maintain existing property. 5. Removal of surplus mortar during construction; the build up of such at the base of the wall will undoubtably span the damp proof course of both properties. I could go on, but that's enough for now. [Note: Party Wall Act doesn't apply, because it won't be a party wall. Party walls are what you get between terraced or semi-detached properties. That is,a single cavity wall shared by both properties.]
lady muck
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 11:39 PMKevSmith...the man (Jesus) 'must be turning in his grave ' !!! Have another read of the New Testament...
percy
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 06:46 PMUnless I'm mistaken, the complaining neighbour just happens to be a Chron reporter. Some conflict there?
mojo
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 03:30 PMLady Muck I think that the diminutive people you are referring to are even wider than 3 inches.
KevSmith
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 03:22 PMI hope the JA are going to pay BIG BUCKS for noise and disruption pollution to the adjoining property etc dare I say this - how many homes do the JA own....if they can afford a new build..they can afford to buy in the market.....its well known they are one of the richest organisations in northampton...if not the richest...plenty of homes they can buy.. whatever happens someone is making some cash on this one !! there is money in religion.....this proves it......the man himself must be turning in his grave at all this capitalism in his name...or have we forgot what the big man did in the tabernacle !!!
wisdom
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 12:00 PMAnother sign of incompetence from the 'experts'.
Removed by moderator
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 11:26 AMErr... are there many houses in Northampton that are "terraced" ie connected to each other? Mind you I would imagine the "Jesus Army " are a bit odd. I would send them off into the countryside.
.~* JEZ *~.
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 10:59 AMIf they let these jesus freaks build there it'll be a travesty!
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