Waverley council's Head of Planning has welcomed a decision to revise reforms that would have allowed bigger extensions to be built without permission or consultations from neighbours.
"Like many councils, Waverley had serious concerns about these proposed changes," Head of Planning Matthew Evans explained.
Proposals put forward by the government last year stated that building an 8 metre, single storey extension to a detached house would be allowed under permitted development and would not require permission from neighbours. The current limit is 4 metres.
Following a vote in the House of Commons, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, wrote to MPs on 19th April proposing that neighbours be consulted on extensions and if they do not object then an extension could go ahead.
"While Waverley welcomes the Government's change of heart, again we are still concerned that the changes do not go far enough," said Mr Evans.
"In our initial consultation response to the Government we described extending the limits to eight and six metre as excessive. It is encouraging to see that others, including many other local planning authorities and their representatives, as well as MPs, agree with this view".
"Overall, Waverley remains of the view that the current limits are generally proportionate and appropriate".
"The neighbours' consultation scheme doesn't seem to have been thought through in detail".
"Hopefully there will be further consultation on these proposals".
