Permitted Development.. allows you to be overlooked?

Dan-Dan

This thread is so familiar,feel like i have read it before years ago, anyone else?

littlerock

I live in a closely packed urban neighbourhood. My neighbours on both sides of my garden have nailed tall trellis to the boundary walls which divide our gardens, nailing the trellis on their side (not on the top of the wall) but well above the height of the wall, and grown plants up it. So has the neighbour whose garden backs onto mine.

I fail to see why trellis should be a problem and would suggest so long as you take care to nail it to your side of the wall and not along the top of the boundary walls, I would not even bother asking your neighbours as mine did not ask me. Make it higher than the walls and grow an evergreen climbing shrub up it, that is what my neighbours have done. I am comfortable with that.

(Ignore posters like Gwylim T - "they only do it to annoy, because they know it teases". There are plenty more helpful people on here.)

Better_Days

Have you checked what they have built is actually within the PD rules? https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200187/your_responsibilities/37/planning_permission/2

Our neighbours have built a massive 4m high barn (covered in green corrugated metal) in the back garden, but as they built it too close to the boundary, planning have told them it has to be either reduced in size or moved. It was also too high. The height is apparently measured from the highest point of the immediately surrounding land (and not from the concrete base as our neighbours apparently thought), although LA's may vary on how they deal with this.

It looks like the barn will be moved away from the boundary, so will then be PD, but doesn't stop it being a dreadful eyesore. We and our neighbours are going down the trellis and planting route for some screening, but a 4m high structure is impossible to fully screen quickly at least.

Planning informed me trellis does count as fencing but also said that they would look sympathetically at trellis on top of the fence for partial screening of the barn.

You could put trellis up and then apply for PP retrospectively if someone complains. It maybe that your neighbour also appreciates the extra privacy gained by trellis and some planting.

suzyp1982

We are currently going through permitted development, all our adjoining neighbours have been informed in writing and have 20odd days to comment, did you never get this, go onto your council website and see if the house comes up.

Hedges/trees will give privacy and can't really be objected to

Davesnave

suzyp1982 wrote: »

Hedges/trees will give privacy and can't really be objected to

Yes they can. The High Hedges Act makes this clear. However, it's a last resort measure.

Planting is the answer, but it should take account of your own need for sunshine. It's impossible to advise further, without knowing the site, whether an attached trellis, an independent trellis set back, or trees and shrubs dotted about, would be best. For some, you may need to consult the neighbours, so stay friendly. Nothing that grows will be instant.

*Sadly, the odd "get over it" comment on this site seems inevitable, possibly from those who have limited options themselves. Everyone has the right to some privacy, or to choose to relinquish it, but when it's lost through the actions of others, then it's reasonable to look for ways to retrieve it too.

phil24_7

What about erecting a fence closer to your house (possibly at the end of the patio if you have one) with a doorway through it to the rest of the garden?

This would give you a secluded spot as well as giving you privacy in the house.

stator

Don't worry about the negative replies, the useful thread reply ratio on this forum is about 1:10 against.
As has been suggested above the first thing to do is to check if what they have done really is legal. You could hire a surveyor.

parking_question_chap

stator wrote: »

Don't worry about the negative replies, the useful thread reply ratio on this forum is about 1:10 against.
As has been suggested above the first thing to do is to check if what they have done really is legal. You could hire a surveyor.

Yes, you could spend money on a surveyor and try to convince the neighbour to allow your surveyor access.

Or, you could phone the LPA and say that you do not think the development carried out is PD and ask them to raise an enforcement case, which will not cost you a penny.

cyclonebri1

Agreed, the enforcement officer is either your best friend or your worst enemy depending on which side of the fence you sit, scuse pun.




Fact is planning depts. apply and enforce planning laws and planning decisions, they can't enable or enforce if it's legal, full stop.

cyclonebri1

ManuelG wrote: »

I can empathise, there's nowhere else *for* me to look if I'm in that room, and I wish they'd follow the trend to put some nets up, it makes me feel a little uncomfortable!

!

Something that several critical and thanked posters seem not to realise, sad