Planners have concerns about 'domestic' garden uses encroaching onto land with a formerly agricultural or natural character. If you live on the edge of a 'settlement limit', they will not want your garden extending beyond that boundary. You would still obviously own the land, but logically there should be some sort of demarcation because that land is technically not 'domestic garden' land. You can still use it as your garden if you don't wildly alter the character of it (you describe it as a wooded garden, which sounds brilliant). The sorts of permitted development that are allowed in gardens would not be allowed.
The barrier could be something as unobtrusive as a wooden knee rail or row of posts set in the ground, but you'll have to check with them. Really they should be explaining this to you and support their reasoning via their published Local Planning Guidance.
I note the link says that if you apply for a garden extension, it is more likely to be granted if there are natural features which form a logical boundary to the extension, so with an eye to the future it might be worth planting a hedge around the outside perimeter (check your own planning authority's Planning Guidance).
I know it probably seems they are just being a PITA just for the sake of it (and perhaps they are!) but this stuff is supposed to protect people having their views and enjoyment spoiled by their neighbours erecting sheds, outdoor offices and trampolines etc, and generally eroding the character of rural villages.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
If all that has been done is a section of an existing garden has been sold to a neighbour, and it remains a garden, it does seem that the OP has been landed with an overly officious official from the council. Sadly, I agree with others who suggest that the OP will simply be creating more problems for themself if they get on the wrong side of said official. It's wrong that it may be necessary to back down even when sure you are in the right, but the officials hold all the cards. You may eventually win an appeal but is it worth the hassle?
IMHO some, NOT ALL, on planning committees are , to say the least, a little " power hungry" and seem intent on making life as difficult as possible for no good reason. Dogma over common sense in many cases .
We've generally had a good experience with the council re planning etc, but there's definitely a few who can make it difficult for whatever their reasons are. All the builders I've used have said our planning/building depts. are usually quite approachable and sensible. We've never been doing anything particularly tricky though, so I expect the more complex the case, the more awkward it can get. Hope you get through it and have a good outcome @serenagraham1405.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Our planners are very strict, being on the edge of the Moor, we were allowed to double the size of our bungalow without planning permission though, so they were good there.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Our planners are very strict, being on the edge of the Moor, we were allowed to double the size of our bungalow without planning permission though, so they were good there.
What part of Devon you from ? Love that part of the world. I got family that sold businesses in Birmingham and moved to Devon 😊
In Bath, the planners are even dafter and very, very picky. They quote the World Heritage site planning regs at every opportunity - we are about 200 yards from the city boundary so right on the edge in a mainly urban setting and to quote ' the proposed double garage would cause harm to the rural ambience of the lane'. Our neighbour had a double garage! We fought them for months, went to appeal, lost and then had to employ a planning consultant who finally got it through - a single garage, refused a pitched roof, had to have a mansard one (totally out of keeping with our house and surrounding ones) and it had to be built of expensive Bath stone, even though there's a modern rendered house across the road. We had to have a tree plan (they belonged to the Council) and the old privet hedge had to have protective fencing right round. The whole project cost a bomb and caused us so much stress, it was unbelievable.
Posts
https://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/planning_portal/lpg_notes/lpg14.htm
Planners have concerns about 'domestic' garden uses encroaching onto land with a formerly agricultural or natural character. If you live on the edge of a 'settlement limit', they will not want your garden extending beyond that boundary. You would still obviously own the land, but logically there should be some sort of demarcation because that land is technically not 'domestic garden' land. You can still use it as your garden if you don't wildly alter the character of it (you describe it as a wooded garden, which sounds brilliant). The sorts of permitted development that are allowed in gardens would not be allowed.
The barrier could be something as unobtrusive as a wooden knee rail or row of posts set in the ground, but you'll have to check with them. Really they should be explaining this to you and support their reasoning via their published Local Planning Guidance.
I note the link says that if you apply for a garden extension, it is more likely to be granted if there are natural features which form a logical boundary to the extension, so with an eye to the future it might be worth planting a hedge around the outside perimeter (check your own planning authority's Planning Guidance).
I know it probably seems they are just being a PITA just for the sake of it (and perhaps they are!) but this stuff is supposed to protect people having their views and enjoyment spoiled by their neighbours erecting sheds, outdoor offices and trampolines etc, and generally eroding the character of rural villages.
Dogma over common sense in many cases .
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
We've never been doing anything particularly tricky though, so I expect the more complex the case, the more awkward it can get.
Hope you get through it and have a good outcome @serenagraham1405.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...