A SUPER noisy garden shed is causing grief to neighbours living nearby who say they can hear everything going on inside.
Residents in the village of Hemyock, near Honiton, say the 9ft high building has been designed for extra living space, complete with its own bedroom, kitchen and bathroom.
2
2
They claim hat the extra noise and buzz of conversation has ruined the peace and quiet of their back gardens.
Next-door neighbour Kevin Andrews, a 43-year-old IT technician, said; “This has been forced upon us without following planning rules.
“Our neighbours have sited it as far away as possible from their place but right alongside the middle of our garden.
“Someone has been living there since December and the TV, discussions and music can be heard from all aspects.
“You can’t escape what it is. You see it everywhere. We hear everything which means we worry that everything we say can be heard.
“If it is sold with the right for that to be used as a bedroom what’s to stop children and teenagers using it, who will be much louder.”
Another neighbour, Martin Dear, claimed conversations can be heard with frequent noise coming across the fence – especially when visitors are invited round.
He said: “That never happened before this annexe was built. We spend a lot of time in our garden and it has really spoilt our enjoyment.”
Most read in The Sun
Mr Dear believes the shed was erected with the intention of living and, or, working in.
He claims: “But the owners did not go through the planning process beforehand. That’s not right.”
‘WALLS ARE THIN’
Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: “The walls are thin and there are big sliding doors which stay open a lot of the time.
“So of course you hear everything. It has completely changed the atmosphere of our little community.”
An application for retrospective planning permission is still being considered by Mid-Devon District Council.
But Hemyock parish councillors are siding with Mr Andrews’ and his objections.
There is no noise and there isn’t a problem
Kevin Philips
One, Paul Dobell, said: “Hemyock Parish Council is not content with this application.
“The building size is not modest compared to the size of the overall garden.
“…When neighbours inform the council that there are ongoing problems with the noise associated with the TV, music and general household noise, surely this must be noted and more weight given to it.”
And Councillor Simon Clist said: “The building is creating a large, overbearing obstacle to the peaceful nature of this location.”
However Kevin Philips, who has applied for the retrospective consent, denied there was a noise problem.
He said the shed was designed as a “quiet place” for his son.
“There is no noise,” he said. “And there isn’t a problem.”
WHAT ARE THE RULES?
Building a shed, a garden home office or a Wendy house won’t normally need planning permission.
But if they’re bigger than 15 sq m, slept in or take up more than half your garden, planning permission requirements apply.
GardenBuildingsDirect highlights rules that state a shed must not exceed exceed 4metres in height for a dual pitched roof or 3metres with any other type of roof.
The height is limited to 2.5metres if the shed is built under metres from a property boundary.
Anything higher may require planning permission.
Neighbours hoping to have the shed removed could get a tape measure and check if it breaches planning rules or get your local council to check.
Legal experts claim that a homeowner could make a nuisance claim if a shed is built too close to a fence.
Other lawyers highlight that a homeowner installing a larger shed or building in their garden may face a “right to light” objection.
Kingsley Smith Solicitors said: “If you are considering building a new property, extension, shed or garden wall, you must be careful not to impact your neighbour’s right to light.
