DanielAllen

Thanks for the replies everyone, it's been a great help! I was probably quite naive in thinking it would go through fairly easily given what is currently there now looks horrendous. Plus the local authority's need for affordable housing in the area! Im a newcomer to the whole self-build area and don't even own my own home yet, definitely should have sought some professional advice prior. I am now in talks with a local planning consultant that used to work at our council as well so very familiar with policies and hopefully a way around it

Something to keep in mind but we wouldn't ever want to live in a caravan or anything similar. If this plot doesn't happen we will most likely buy a normal house

They aren't structural unfortunately and the caravan dwelling is over 60 years old now, some facings and the roof has been changed but nothing we could do with it to make the application just an extension

Yes with rates paid! My family on that side has never had much money so they made do. My aunt lived in it until 2016 I think it was! The existing use was cited as "C3 Dwelling House; existing derelict/disused caravan house" on our application. The description is "Proposed New Detached Self-Build Dwelling House" Her main issue seems to be the distance between the properties, she's never mentioned about obscuring the windows to overcome this

Posted them all after the initial

That's what we were hoping but she doesn't seem to give any wiggle room at all and any points I've raised so far that are obviously in our favour she just ignores and doesn't even answer

My grandparents house is the bungalow not the new-ish build so our frontal Windows face their bungalow. The conservatory is classed as the back of their dwelling

Never mentioned anything about the building to the west other than the whole garden can't be at first floor lever like we wanted. It'll have to be split level so we aren't overlooking their garden. The officer did say it was overbearing and we're happy to reduce the overall height if need be but we obviously can't move the house back or it will then be an issue for the westerly property

Should have added this for context, our house would face the back of theirs

It is becuase they're facing windows she's saying. As you can what is there currently which until my Aunty passed away a couple of years ago was lived in with rates being paid on it is even closer to my grandparents bungalow than the proposed house

0301 - East Elevation - Proposed.pdf 0302 - South Elevation - Proposed.pdf 0303 - West Elevation - Proposed.pdf 0002 - Site Block Plan - Proposed.pdf 0003 - Site Block Plan - Existing.pdf 0300 - North Elevation - Proposed.pdf

So we've had planning denied on a couple of points but one of which being the council states the space around dwellings means the house needs to be 22m from my grandparents bungalow (The plans show it at 17m). They're gifting us the land so they are obviously fine with it. What I don't get though is we're already demolishing and replacing a dwelling that is currently closer to my grandparents than what we're actually building on the land (14m from their bungalow). Surely this should be taken into account? I'm losing the will to live with our planning officer!!

I agree, i'm going to speak with building control next week and see whay they come back with, definitely the best option I think. Cheers for the help!