We are petitioning the council to uphold all Barnet Homeowners rights to convert their loft space under permitted development (no planning permission required), and support the case of the Carter Family of Leicester Road, East Finchley, London N2.

Our loft conversion was carried out under permitted development rights (no need for planning permission) and has been denied a lawful status by Barnet Planning Department. This loft conversion is almost, if not exactly, identical in design and layout to 99 others in the 4 roads surrounding and including Leicester Road (approx 1 in 4 homes) and in our opinion does not breach any of the stipulated criteria for permitted development rights.

We need to sell our home for the health of our chronically ill teenage daughter, the sooner the better, and in order to rectify this status from Unlawful to Lawful, we were advised by Barnet Planning Authority to apply for full planning permission as a way forwards for us. Barnet Planning Authority are now recommending refusal of our (expensive) application, on the grounds of being 'out of character with the house and surrounding area'.

We feel our loft conversion has been tastefully done, it improves the house and surrounding area and is very 'in character' - you cannot see it from the street and it echoes many others from the rear view in our garden. In our opinion this is an unfair decision, particularly as it affects our ability to sell our house, which in turn impacts the health and quality of life of our daughter who has been suffering with M.E. since 2016.

As far as we are aware, no other households in this area have applied for planning permission for their lofts, because it is expected to be legal under permitted development, and we feel we are being used as a test case by the planning authority, and they are being unreasonable in order to set a precedent. Also, they have ignored multiple times the evidence we have supplied them with (photographs and screen grabs from Google Maps).

Our local councillor Claire Farrier has helped us (although she cannot express an opinion) she has called our application to committee so now it will be decided by the Finchley and Golders Green Planning Committee on September 4th. We need as much support as we can get from our fellow local residents, and indeed anyone who feels that homeowners rights should be upheld  - please support us as this outcome will affect every Barnet Homeowner's rights, and ours and our daughter's life. Thank you.