I came back from holiday to find a ‘shoddy’ brick wall built right outside my window by my neighbour – it ruined my view
A FUMING homeowner has slammed his neighbour for their “shoddy” brick wall ruining their view.
Outrage was sparked after the family came back from a relaxing holiday only to find their sneaky resident next door had built the eye-sore.
Venting their anger on social media, the anonymous poster wrote: “Came back home after a month to find a wall 1.5 m away from my window. How is that even legal?”
The raging Reddit user explained the selfish construction is being carried out by an inconsiderate developer creating “luxurious townhouses”.
Yet, the inconvenienced homeowner branded the nightmare newbuilds “tiny” and “poorly made”.
Despite discovering that planning permission was approved for the nuisance wall, the disgruntled resident is now embarking on a bitter council war.
“The shoddy quality of work is another thing. I have seen them putting insulation in the cavity walls right before heavy rains,” they explained.
“It wasn’t covered at all and soaked up all the water. They bricked it up soon afterwars.
“I feel sorry for the desperate people who will spend a fortune to live in this.”
Chartered town planner, Martin Gaine, from Just-Planning.co.uk, told Express.co.uk what your rights are in these frustrating situations.
He said: “It seems odd that planning permission would be granted for buildings to be erected so close to a neighbour’s window.
“It may be that the council decided that your window is not an important one – that there are other windows to this room, or that the room it serves is not ‘habitable’ (that it is a bathroom, utility room or other room where people do not typically hang out).”
The property expert explained planning permission verdicts will be provided with an “officer’s report”.
This should outline how the decision was reached – and possibly offer unhappy residents points to argue their case on.
“If you are having trouble working it out, contact the case officer or your local ward councillors,” added Martin.
It is not unheard of for developers to ignore submitted building specs and break their planning permission agreements.
However, the issue is difficult to fight, according to the planning permission whizz.
He continued: “The only way to challenge a planning permission is through a judicial review to the High Court.”
Martin argued the best solution is prevention – and urged Brits to keep an eye-out for upcoming planning permission meetings.
“It is important to object if you feel that a proposal might cause you harm (for example, in terms of losing light or privacy),” he said.
“If you are unsure of what exactly is proposed or how you can respond, speak to the council case officer to get some help.”
What are your rights?
Source, towerhamlets.gov.uk
- Unfortunately appealing approved planning permission can only be done by or on behalf of the person who made the application. – meaning neighbours can’t appeal.
- If you can or want to appeal, you submit your appeal to the Planning Inspectorate – more details on the GOV.UK website.
- To appeal a householder application or minor commercial application must be made within 12 weeks.
- An appeal to an advertisement application must be made within eight weeks.
- Appeals to all other application types or development types must be made within six months.
- An independent planning inspector will then consider your appeal.
- Once they have made a decision on the case, you no longer have a right of appeal.
- The final option is challenging the decision in the High Court on a point of law.