The Department of Communities and Local Government carried out a consultation on proposed changes to permitted development which ended on Christmas Eve. Ealing Civic Society objected to the proposed changes which would allow detached houses to be extended by 8m and other houses by 6m in non-protected areas (including conservation areas). Some expansion of shops and offices would also be permitted. The proposals would be introduced in April for three years to try to promote building projects and therefore increase employment. Our concerns are that the changes would increase neighbour conflict, and schemes refused in recent years on grounds of overshadowing or overlooking would become permitted development. We hope that the Coalition will realise the problems that would be created by the proposed changes and drop the proposal which has received a lot of criticism from amenity groups.
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