You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
So I live on a single track lane. A developer wishes to build a house further up... as it happens I don't have strong views one way or the another about the build itself. The local highway officer recommended refusal based on the lane being unsuitable for access (restricted width along its length, amongst other things). Developer commissioned a private report which refutes this., But in doing so they have stated that "driveway entrances" (mainly ours..there only are 2 in total) could be used as passing places.
"Driveway entrance" is the driveway, which is privately owned. There is the lane, and then the driveway; no part of the driveway entrance is council owned. Steep short driveway with loose gravel on top which will likely be scattered to the winds with spinning wheels (delivery drivers don't even try..they drive up and reverse back down the lane).
I'm going to point this out in the application website in any case.. but is it generally acceptable (in law?) to use a private driveway as a planned passing place for construction traffic?
Fit some gates. Problem solved.
Fit some gates. Problem solved.
Or, more usefully some massive concrete bollards at the edge of your property. Gate will just get knocked over...
What does it say on your deeds if it’s your land they can’t touch it
Land mines
Large boulders- painted white - make it only possible to drive a car in - like a bay park - and not park one sideways in it .... i did this after the edges our rear drive ways bridge(over a ditch not a moat) kept getting ****ed up by people using it as a passing place - its not really big enough - but it nearly is.
Then i got complaints about how i was obstructing traffic..... To which i just said its a straight single track road with good visibility - stop in the passing bays (only about 30 meters before) and stop damaging my property. - the boulders have been nudged a few times judging by the paint - i guess folks are just used to cutting in .... but i have not had to repair the edges of the bridge for a while 😀
Whilst I am far from being a nimby, a proposition to effectively surrender my driveway and turn it into a passing place - Absolutely nae chance!
I'd be politely, but firmly requesting they go back to the drawing board.
I'd also be aiming to have a unified voice between yourself and the other driveway / prospective passing place owner too.
Object - saying that private land cannot be considered as a legal passing place. state that you will erect a barrier of the application is approved.
I'lld also be dropping an email to the private 'consultant' who prepared the access report advising them of their error, (also copying in Council).
Or offer the developer the opportunity to create a formal passing place in return for a fee. If your land is the difference between the development going ahead or not it could be worth quite a bit plus you will be able to get them to pay your legal fees and construct a passing place / drive entrance to your design.
Get them to build a layby outside your house and then use it as extra parking 🙂
To be fair to the consultant, and I dont know the actualy wording, they have probably only put it in there as an advisory that could potentially be a way forward. The developer would have to get agreements in place from the land owners and would probably be willing to do extra work to the drives to facilitate his development.
That being said there's no bloody way I'd be allowing it without ££$££$£$£$££!!
If you get a nicely constructed and surfaced entrance to your property as part of the deal that's great. But make sure there are no gas and water pipes underneath that can get crushed by wagons using it. Which become your responsibility to fix.
*Voice of personal experience*
I wouldn't be at all surprised if the planning officer overruled the Highways people for something like that.
It wouldn't really concern me as the traffic for one other property is hardly likely to be heavy, live and let live, it's better to befriend your neighbour if possible. I'd be asking for some cash to allow it and the drive rebuilt.
Good suggestions thanks. I don't think I made it quite clear.... I don't object in principal to the house and its traffic. My concerns entirely revolve around heavier construction traffic and their rights to access my land.
Construction traffic is not usually an issue considered by the planners.
If you don’t want to object I would definitely inform planning that the proposed solution utilises land that the applicant has no control over. As such it does not satisfy highways concerns. This may not be reason to refuse permission, and if not then it will become a private matter between you and the developer