I recently submitted a planning application to put 2 windows in the bathroom and downstairs toilet of our new house - side elevation.
Permission has been granted, but with a clause that if we want them to open, the opening portion must be 1.7m above floor level - reason given is due to "tall people potentially being able to overlook neighbouring properties and therefore affecting privacy".
Now, the problem with that is that the existing bathroom window we have on the other side of the property has an opening section 1.6m from the floor and several other houses in the vicinity have bathroom windows in side elevations with similar opening heights and even fully opening windows (including our immediate nighbours) which puts them around 1.2m from the floor level!
Currently in discussion with our local council, but they're digging heels in and have said I'd need to submit a new application with strong arguments about why we should be allowed 1.6m, which may cost me another another application fee.
Doubly frustrating, as one of the other clauses in the permission states the new windows should be of similar appearance and construction to the existing ones - putting them 10cm higher will just look odd!
I don't understand why the builders have been able to put windows into neighbouring houses that apparently breach planning regulations but we are being denied putting the exact same thing in.
</vent> - apologies