RESIDENTS have told how they’ve been forced to spend £6,000 on a fence to block their neighbour’s huge eyesore extension.
Locals in Brierfield, Lancashire, say the add-on is more like an “extra property” than an extension and claim the raised terrace has left them with “no privacy”.
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Neighbours are fuming that the colossal imposing building stares right into their gardens and homes.
One angry local told The Sun: “I pleaded with the council to come and stand in my garden and see for themselves but they wouldn’t.
“I have absolutely no privacy. Their windows look straight into my house.
“The builders who have been working at the house have been waving at me because they have a clear view outside.”
Neighbours claim the raised terrace “block the view for neighbouring residents, destroy trees, and infringe on their privacy”.
One homeowner was even forced to take matters into their own hands – and fork out thousands to build a fence.
They told Lancashire Live: “The garden terracing is appalling and has caused so much distress to many residents.
“We have had to spend £6,000 on a fence and wall to cover it up and the residents below are waterlogged when it rains.
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“People are frightened to complain and object now.”
The terraces did not have planning permission when they were built – but have now received retrospective planning – which has riled up residents.
The local continued: “One elderly couple in Marsden Heights (behind Kings Causeway) have to keep their bedroom curtains and lounge curtains closed permanently, and all the lady loved doing was watching the birds from her window – which incidentally have all gone now due to the removal of the trees.”
Another said: “It is not just the impact it’s had on our privacy but the impact on the environment too.
“All the trees and bushes that have been taken out helped absorb the rain water.
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“Now everything has been flattened, all the rain water will end up in my garden.
“It has already had pooled a couple of times and it’s not even winter.
“I bought this house because it was nice and secluded.
“All that has been lost and I’m sure that will knock money off the price of the house.
“The new owners promised we’d be consulted over any changes that would effect us but that just didn’t happen.”
Planning and development manager, Neil Watson, said: “When we received a complaint about the development at Kings Causeway, we contacted the developer and asked them to submit a retrospective planning application so that the issues raised could be considered.
What to do if your neighbour is building a property extension and you’re not happy
Here’s what you should do if you’re not happy with a neighbour’s extension according to Jordan’s Solicitors…
If you find yourself in a position where your neighbour has begun any building work and you are concerned the work may damage or undermine the structural soundness of your own property you should obtain immediate assistance from a solicitor or a structural surveyor.
If planning permission is required but your neighbour has not obtained this, the planning authority should order your neighbour to cease building immediately. It is therefore worth checking with the local planning authority whether planning permission was necessary and if so, whether it was obtained first.
If necessary, you can apply to the Court for an injunction to stop the work from continuing whilst steps are taken to ensure the work is completed safely and correctly especially if the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 has not been followed.
“Neighbours were then given an opportunity to comment on the planning application as part of a normal consultation.
“A report was submitted to the council’s Planning Committee which referred to the five letters of objection and the concerns raised during the consultation.
“These concerns were considered alongside all other material considerations and the application was approved on its merits.
“We acknowledge that the decision to approve the application was not in accordance with the views of the residents, but it was fully assessed and deemed appropriate.”
The owners of the house do not live there because it is still being renovated.
The Sun was unable to contact the homeowner but they declined to comment to the local paper.
The Sun has contacted Pendle Council for comment.
