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overlooked by neighbouring houses - new build

bigfreddiel · 2011-05-27 22:04:35

Four new build houses in field behind my house -the builder has raised the earth level by 2 metres - using the soil from the excavated foundations. A stone wall separates the properties - its my wall as wall. So now walking down their garden they an see right intoour houss and garden. Is this raising of their ground level…

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Mojisola Posts: 35,571 Forumite

29 May 2011 at 10:09AM

bigfreddiel wrote: »

have you ever seen a cornish stone wall (not a dry wall) i assure you 2metres is the lowest it gets -further round my property its 6 - 8 metres high! so there - yah boo sucks and all that stuff!

That's fine if you're happy with it. I have seen cornish stone walls and they are lovely but I would still want a proper retaining wall to hold back the neighbours' gardens and houses.

I would be concerned that, as it's your wall, the developer is putting future responsibility for retaining the higher land on you.

now can i measure my fence from their datum?

If the fence is in your garden, it should be measured from your unchanged garden level. That doesn't stop you putting up a higher one but, if there are complaints, the council will have the power to make you reduce the height.

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Mrs_Arcanum Posts: 23,976 Forumite

29 May 2011 at 10:17AM

They should be made to put obscure glazing and restricted opening in all the upstairs windows. Send photographic evidence to your MP as it seems like the local planners are not brilliant.

As for height limits this has probably been relaxed due to bungalows having a high land to space requirement so less can be built. The fact that people will pay a premium for this seems to have been missed.

Truth always poses doubts & questions. Only lies are 100% believable, because they don't need to justify reality. - Carlos Ruiz Zafon, The Labyrinth of the Spirits
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C_Mababejive Posts: 11,668 Forumite

29 May 2011 at 10:30AM

Id go for the outline PP idea and do it right now!

It would severely thwart sales of the new homes..??

Feudal Britain needs land reform. 70% of the land is "owned" by 1 % of the population and at least 50% is unregistered (inherited by landed gentry). Thats why your slave box costs so much..
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Mrs_Arcanum Posts: 23,976 Forumite

29 May 2011 at 11:45AM

Definitely worth looking at the plans "as approved". You should be able to do this via Cornwall Council as they should have everything available to view on line. You can check whether the plans included raising the building height and keep complaining.

Truth always poses doubts & questions. Only lies are 100% believable, because they don't need to justify reality. - Carlos Ruiz Zafon, The Labyrinth of the Spirits
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TEDDYRUKSPIN Posts: 1,528 Forumite

29 May 2011 at 12:14PM

bigfred. I suggest you post on http://www.gardenlaw.co.uk/phpBB2/index.php to get some nice legal advice.

With the comments you have put, something seems amiss or wrong.

It might be interesting to put up a photo for people to see.

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