Our nightmare neighbour built a 19ft high double garage – it’s like another house and it blocks our views…we’re raging
RESIDENTS are raging after a neighbour built a 19ft high double garage which they claim is like another house and blocks their views.
Retired cop Steve Bull, 58, erected the six-metre wide structure behind his home in Abergavenny in south Wales.
When he was granted planning permission for the garage in 2019, he was told the apex of the roof must not exceed four metres.
But he installed a 5.7m roof on the building, sparking a long-running dispute with neighbours and local councillors.
He simultaneously submitted an application for retrospective planning permission for the new height, but planners turned it down after hearing locals’ objections.
Mr Bull was forced to pull the roof down and replace it with a 4.5m high ridge line.
Although he has not yet had time to install the new, approved roof, his neighbours are already complaining and are understood to have begun campaigning for the decision to be overturned.
One angry neighbour, mental health nurse Kelly Skinner, 47, said she is “appalled” that Monmouthshire County Council have approved the 4.5m roof.
The mother-of-two said: “People live in this street because of the amazing views across the back gardens towards the Deri.
“But when his 5.7m roof went up, you couldn’t see a thing. It blocked out all the view and it’s an eyesore anyway. Why do you need a roof that high to park a car under?
“I’m appalled the planners let this through. This garage looks like he’s built another house in his back garden. It’s the biggest garage I’ve ever seen. It’s totally excessive.”
Mr Bull said the process has been “nothing but stress and hassle”.
How do you apply for planning permission?
IF you're thinking of taking on a building project, you can apply for planning permission online.
You’ll probably need planning permission if you want to:
- Build something new
- Make a major change to your building, eg building an extension
- Change the use of your building
You can use a template letter on the Planning Portal website to submit a planning application.
Planning permission for changes to a single property, such as wanting to build an extension, currently cost around £206 in England.
To build a new home, planning permission starts at £462 per 0.1 hectare.
If the site is more than 2.5 hectares, it’s £11,432 plus £138 per 0.1 hectare up to a maximum of £150,000.
This goes up to £22,859 for a block of new-builds containing 50 homes, plus £138 for every additional residency.
Not sure if you need planning permission? Contact your local planning authority (LPA) before submitting your request.
He even said he now wishes he had never embarked on the project.
Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, said a group of locals were “taking legal advice” in order to launch an appeal against the council decision to grant Mr Bull permission for his 4.5m ridge line.
“It’s all been something of a nightmare,” the neighbour said. “The sooner this monstrosity is brought under control, the better. We’ve lost our lovely view and it’s been replaced by a brute of a building.”
The new planning application to retain and complete the garage came back before a council’s planning committee following a request from local councillor Martyn Groucutt, who covers the Abergavenny area.
He told the committee: “The neighbours oppose [the application].”
The Labour councillor said “much has been said about the height” but he said the “footprint” of the garage should also be considered.
Another local councillor, Maureen Powell said: “Had this gentleman gone along with what was approved at the very start we would not have this problem now.”
She said the building would “stand out like a sore thumb” and said the originally-approved 4m height should remain.
But planning officers said the 0.5m increase on what was originally approved is “relatively small” and the height is “acceptable in this urban context”.
The report also said the garage, at the size now agreed, would be “largely screened” by a neighbouring garage so it is not considered to be overbearing.
The application was approved.
Mr Bull said: “When I started, the idea was to improve the property, which I had bought originally for my daughter, Melissa, and my grandson to live in.
“I have used quality materials throughout the project and I really don’t understand why anyone would object to what I’ve done.
“I sometimes wonder what’s wrong with people. I sourced traditional Abergavenny stone for the walls and the finish is high quality.”