Blackburn neighbours in dispute over home renovation branded ‘oppressive and controlling’

Blackburn Council Approves House Extension Despite Neighbors’ ObjectionsBlackburn Council Approves House Extension Despite Neighbors’ Objections Blackburn’s planning committee has approved plans for a house extension in Beardwood, despite objections from neighbors who described the project as “overwhelming, oppressive, and domineering.” Adnan Patel sought planning permission for alterations to his two-story home at 8 Ryburn Avenue. His proposal included a two-story side extension, a single-story rear extension, a first-floor balcony, and a veranda. Two residents, Ahmad Musa and Barry Roberts, attended the planning committee meeting to voice their concerns. Musa argued that the extensions would invade their privacy and cause “pain and misery” to his family. Roberts expressed fears that the balcony would overlook his rear bedrooms and garden. However, Patel’s agent, Samantha Townsend, assured the committee that the amended application complied with all council planning regulations and would not result in any loss of privacy for neighboring properties. Despite the objections, the committee voted to approve the plan with seven conditions, including the installation of privacy screens on the balcony. According to Councillor Quesir Mahmood, who supported the application, “Every house on the street is very different and very individual.” The approval of the extension has sparked controversy in the neighborhood, with some residents expressing concerns about the potential impact on the streetscape and the character of the area.

Councillors have approved the conversion of a house in Blackburn despite a neighbour telling them it was ‘overwhelming, oppressive and domineering’. Ahmad Musa was one of two residents who attended Blackburn’s planning committee with Darwen Council to personally object to the extensions to the house in Beardwood.

Adnan Patel had applied for planning permission for alterations to his two-storey detached home at 8 Ryburn Avenue. He can now add a two-storey side extension, a single-storey rear extension, a first-floor balcony and a veranda after the committee voted to approve the plan with seven conditions, including the installation of privacy screens on the balcony.

The approved application was an amended resubmission of a previously withdrawn plan. His proposal attracted seven objections from local residents.

The plan was discussed by the committee on Thursday night at the request of Billinge and Beardwood councillors Jackie Floyd and Tasleem Fazal. The proposal will increase the number of bedrooms in the house from four to five.

The neighbours’ objections included the excessive size of the proposal; loss of privacy (particularly from the rear balcony); loss of light and views; change in the character of the streetscape; terracing effect and overdevelopment. Mr Musa and Barry Roberts of 27 Beardwood Brow attended the meeting in person to object to the application and ask councillors to refuse it.

Mr Musa said: “The applicant is determined to build on top of his building. The extensions will be overwhelming, oppressive and overbearing,

“They will feel like an invasion of privacy and cause pain and misery to my family.”

Mr Roberts said his home was at the rear of 8 Ryburn Avenue and that the proposed balcony directly overlooked two of his rear bedrooms and that the screening did not protect his property or garden. He added that he saw little point in the balcony unless the owner ‘intended to look into my garden and living rooms’.