Builders built much higher and wider walls than the planning application shows.

[dmdrabble]

I have building work going on 2 houses on from me. The owner has submitted 4 plans so far and has finally gotten planning permission on the 4th try. He scaled back each time until he got the go ahead. The plan is for a ground floor extension and dormer to the rear of the house.Work started and now I can see the external walls of their ground floor extension. They have built much wider than the plans show. There should be almost a meter gap between the extension and next door. There is no gap. Also, the external wall on the ground floor extension facing me is around 6 feet higher than the plans show. The plans indicate the wall should come to the level of the bottom of their upstairs windows. It actually extends as high as the rood and looks an eyesore. I would say its almost 6 feet higher than it should be.

At the time of consultation, I didn't dispute the plans, because what they submitted was scaled back to what they have actually built. I have since logged a complaint with my local planning. I have an automatic reply, saying the are overstretched and will endeavour to deal with the complaint as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the building work continues.

My questions are:
I know the council won't tell them its me who logged the complaint, but will they have been informed there is a complaint and they may have to stop? Is it possible they will be told to demolish what they have built and start again?
All council planning departments are busy and they don't have the time or budget to deal with the volume of applications and complaints they get. I am concerned they will they turn a blind eye, because they don't have the resources to challenge building firms?
If the council do decide that they dont want to challenge, what other action can I take and at this point, will it start costing me money?
Is this a common thing for individuals to submit plans and build higher and wider than what they applied for? If so, I suspect they are confident of getting away with it.

[echat11]

What you will need to do is check the 'Permitted Development' Guidance. Once upon a time, everything needed the Councils planning permission, now almost anything goes. It's ridiculous. You are being shown one thing in the plans, but end up with something 'totally' different which can have a big 'effect' on you.

a) I know the council won't tell them its me who logged the complaint, but will they have been informed there is a complaint and they may have to stop? Is it possible they will be told to demolish what they have built and start again?

They will be informed there is a complaint. The Council will check the work carried out against the PDG, if there are 'breaches' the Council might act, but they will consider other things regarding the breach. The homeowner can appeal the Council's decision etc.

b) All council planning departments are busy and they don't have the time or budget to deal with the volume of applications and complaints they get. I am concerned they will they turn a blind eye, because they don't have the resources to challenge building firms?

Building firms know that the Council don't have the resources. So it they try to get away breaching the PDG.

c) If the council do decide that they dont want to challenge, what other action can I take and at this point, will it start costing me money?
Is this a common thing for individuals to submit plans and build higher and wider than what they applied for? If so, I suspect they are confident of getting away with it.

Check the PDG, keep chasing the Council You need to nail down the breaches. If they are 'minor' breaches the Council may 'allow' them.