A MAN has taken drastic action after his neighbour built a “roof terrace” extension which looks right into his house.
Peter Vowden, 71, from Shipley in West Yorkshire, said his neighbour Khalil Hussain can peer into his garden from the extension.
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The retired surgeon also claims that CCTV cameras now look into his back yard – and that Hussain cut down protected mature trees against council rules.
He said: “No application has ever been lodged and now we have a huge flat roof extension, which has an access door to the roof.
“They are obviously going to use it as a roof terrace, which will see them looking over my private garden.
“These bug houses were built for privacy and isolation and what they have built destroys that privacy.
“They are able to see right into our garden – and they have fitted CCTV cameras which overlook it.”
Last week Bradford Council turned down a retrospective planning application for the extension – which may now have to be torn down.
But Peter fears that the council will not enforce its own decision, leaving the extension untouched.
He said: “They have lost the retrospective planning application, but they will appeal.
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“Hussain came round and we did not reach an agreement about what needs to be done.”
Tradesmen continue to work inside Hussain’s home and in his garden.
His extension has faced objections from other neighbours and from the neighbourhood watch.
The council is also investigating the alleged unauthorised removal of trees at the property.
THE ROOF WILL OUT
Councillor Kamran Hussain defended Hussain’s extension in a meeting to weigh up his retrospective planning application.
He said: “When he wanted to make changes to the property he thought it was permitted development.
“As soon as he realised it wasn’t he put in an application, followed advice and has been trying to do everything by the book.”
But fellow councillor Kevin Warnes said: “If this applicant had engaged with neighbours and took the advice of our planning officers then approval would have been straightforward.
“However, they haven’t done that, and we have a retrospective application, and the building is almost complete.
“I feel this extension does damage the outlook of neighbours.”
Hussain could not be reached for comment.
