Adjacent Developer’s land

Fig12

I’m not sure where this sits but any legal advice gratefully accepted . I have lived in an end terrace property for 22 years and the piece of land with bushes adjacent to the side of my house remains the property of the well known developer company. I asked to buy this when we first moved in and was told no as it was an integral part of the village ( as it matched the other side ) . For 20 years the developer has maintained the land , cut the bushes down ( usually after a reminder from me). The last 2 years though this stopped & I have had such a battle to get them to get a maintenance contract in place . Mainly so I can have access to a window at the side of the house . All I wanted was them to cut the established bushes and leave access near the window . They have finally been today ( while I was out all day and was unaware of their plans ) and desimated the whole area , leaving a muddy mess and it just looks terrible . But my main concern is there was no warning this is what they were going to do and now there is no obvious borders around the side of my house  , it looks like they have put grass seed down , so presume they are just going to cut the grass. However my window is now vulnerable to the public and I want to know what if anything I can do about it. I feel like they have done this as I have been chasing them to maintain the area . Am I able to insist they replace the bushes ? When I recently again asked about buying the land so I could maintain it , they said they couldn’t sell due to planning conditions . I don’t know what these are. I now don’t trust the developer and worried that they could us the adjacent land for anything and I have no say . Photos attached before and after . IMO maintainence would have been cut backs once or twice a year . Why on earth take out bushes established over 20 years . 

Fig12

 this is the after 😩 

user1977

Why do you think you have any right to control what they have planted on their own land? Is there anything in your titles about it?

anselld

Presumably the "obvious border" is the brick wall of your house (which was not particularly obvious before).  It will look fine once the grass grows.

kimwp

Did you mention wanting access to the window?

WIAWSNB

Fig, I hope you can sense from the replies above that your expectations of your 'rights' may be somewhat confused?
The owner of that land does not have to concern themselves about your security or privacy - they can pretty much do with it what they wish (PP allowing). Having said that, the two aspects that could well affect you - the right to light via that window, and possible damp and damage from their bushes being in contact with the house wall - have now been addressed, so they have done the 'right thing'. And now on a more permanent basis - quite sensible.
It appears to be as simple as that, but it also appears you consider it to have been a spiteful move? Nothing I can see suggests this. And they have even made good the damaged ground. Surely you can see all this as being very considerate behaviour?
Do you know where, exactly, your property boundary lies? Do you have a copy of your deeds map? Could you post it - anonymised - on here please? 
If it's the case that the actual boundary runs in contact with your house wall, then all you can do is to fit a window blind. It would be unreasonable to expect them to landscape that area to suit you.
It's a shame, tho', that they reckon they cannot consider selling even a pathway-sized strip along that wall. If they reckon it's down to Planning laws, then perhaps it's worth a word with your LA's P Dept? And speak to your local councillor - ask them to visit to see the issue?
But, the developer has done nothing wrong afaIcs.

LightFlare

Personally, I think it looks much better/neater.

You wanted acess to the window and now you have it - maybe not what you wanted.

If you are concerned about privacy now, just get a blind, curtains or privacy glass/film fitted

Flugelhorn

that is a pretty good job from the contractors and looks much neater and will be better for the wall etc - try a day/ night blind or similar if concerned about privacy

kimwp

On the "why on earth take out bushes established for 20 years" and replace it with grass- it will be easier to mow a bit more (in addition to the grass they are already mowing) than to cut back the bushes.

Ayr_Rage

Looks much better now.

As for the window, it was always getting light, that hasn't changed and if My Burglar wanted to get at it the overgrown mess wasn't that much of a deterrent.

Fig12

Flugelhorn said:

that is a pretty good job from the contractors and looks much neater and will be better for the wall etc - try a day/ night blind or similar if concerned about privacy

The before photo is the area overgrown , so yes it does look a mess but they only needed to trim the bushes back , not take them out , which would have allowed the access, needed as it had for the last 20 years.