A couple say a newly built bungalow next to their home has cut £30,000 off the value of the house because it has been built too close. Roger Smith, 59, and Sharon Smith, 61, say the roof of the new house is close enough to their garden to touch.
The bungalow backs onto the Smiths' garden and was built after plans for the one-storey home were rejected multiple times by Broxtowe Borough Council and once by the Government’s Planning Inspectorate, reports NottinghamshireLive. It was finally given permission in July 2018 and built two years later.
Mr Smith said: “It dwarfs our garden completely. We’ve had to put up blinds to keep our privacy and it’s ruined the light. It’s definitely devalued our home as well. I just can’t believe it was ever built to be honest.”
Mrs Smith said: “It’s so intrusive and close. You can reach out and touch the roof from our garden.” The couple said they tried to buy the land to prevent the bungalow being built but were unsuccessful.
They say an independent property valuation has found the neighbouring property has cut 25k to 30k off their home. “Our neighbours aren’t happy either, one of them has put up conifers along their house to block it out," Mr Smith said.
In a report outlining the Planning Inspectorate's decision, an inspector acknowledged a small proportion of the rear wall of the proposal and all of its roof would be visible from the Smiths' property. But the inspector said the "modest height and shallow pitch roof would mean it would not obstruct the outlook from this neighbouring property".
The Inspector added: "I have carefully considered the effect of this proposal on the occupiers of these two neighbouring dwellings and on other surrounding properties. However, overall, I do not consider the proposal in Appeal A would unacceptably harm the living conditions of the neighbouring residents."
Planning agent Steve Dance, speaking on behalf of applicant Mark Copeland who obtained planning permission and sold the land, said: "We had various appeals, and lost one and won one. Actually, the one we lost was designed to avoid going past their garden, so the bungalow that got consent does go past their garden - which we won on appeal.
"We fought long and hard to get a development on the site, it was totally appropriate for at least one dwelling. We had various designs refused and that we designed to avoid impact on neighbours. We won it fair and square on appeal, both neighbours were consulted and I'm sure objected to it."
