I tried to consider things from my neighbours' perspective. It's important as there are eight. Several were of the opinion I was going to put a multiple housing development on the plot. No matter what I said to them directly a very few found it hard to believe I was going to build a family home. For that matter several departments at the Council also speculated that I was going to apply for a multiple development.

The first thing any neighbours knew of our purchase was the application to remove about 40 trees as well as reduction works to many others. During the purchase a blanket Tree Preservation Order had been applied to the site. Objections flew in from several points but the work had been discussed with the Forestry Officer and the Committee gave approval. We then applied for the felling of another 40 trees. A lady living about 4 miles away was convinced that I was a retired Brazilian Logger who was keen to return to work! She wrote to the local newspaper and the council objecting loudly.

By coincidence I met a Parish Councillor about a fortnight before we applied for the second tree works application. I showed him a plan and explained the reasoning. The second application was also granted with approval this time also coming from the Parish.

With the work completed under these two applications we could now see the site. David was working on the plan and it was looking good. Because of our site topography a standard 'A' frame house would be overbearing to both principal neighbours. The cottage above us has a low ridge height and our other principal neighbour is on land that is significantly lower. We resolved this issue with the inverted shallow V roof on the pavilion and it looked great. With glass immediately under the stressed ply underside, 6 beams holding it all up and no internal support, it will look as though it 'floats.'

I decided to present the proposal to our neighbours one by one believing that it was sensible to show how we had arrived at the scheme, and the thought processes that had gone into creating it. I took with me:

The rejected European solution
Why it was rejected
Our brief
Site Plans showing their properties in relation to the proposal
House plans
Elevation perspectives
Further tree work proposals to fit the building onsite.
A profile showing the new property sitting between my two principal neighbours (height).

Many issues were individually discussed. Trees remained an issue as neighbours were concerned that the next phase of felling would be very noticeable. In fact our neighbours will see very little difference as the final work hardly affects the boundary trees.

I also presented the proposals at a meeting with our local Parish Councillor and our representative Member of the Planning Committee. All one is doing in this case is presenting the idea, explaining how the plan evolved and the consideration that went into it. If this is not done it cannot be assumed that a Committee will understand quite complicated contemporary plans. On the whole, our neighbours generally appreciated being communicated with. Speculation was removed, and what could have been a major issue - increased roof height to the existing property - was largely allayed. The new structure would be only about a metre higher than the roof height of the existing bungalow.

Shortly after consulting our neighbours we submitted the plans to the Council. One neighbour had said "well, it's not my cup of tea but I have nothing to object to." The same person very kindly wrote a letter of unconditional support to the Council.

The plans received 2 letters of support, 2 letters of conditional support and 1 objection.