A house is being built so close to a family's home that they can touch it from their bathroom. Niki Caira has slammed the local authority's planning chiefs who approved the construction of the two luxury homes in Fife.
The mum-of-seven says she was horrified when she found out how little space there would be between the new buildings and her own property. She is baffled as to why Fife Council gave permission for KJJ Properties and businessman Alex Penman to build the two £350,000 homes in the face of strong opposition from local residents who raised "serious" concerns.
Niki, 39, and her husband Mario objected to the planning application for the properties for the first time in 2020, but they given the green light by council chiefs in June last year. When construction began in May, Niki said she measured the distance between the two dwellings and said there is only two metres between her home's roof and the new property.
She added that a wall directly blocks light to two of her windows. Speaking to the Daily Record, Niki said: "It's an eyesore and all we can see when we look out of our windows.
"When I complained about it the builder suggested I put up a high wall to hide the property. My kids would feel like they were living in a prison with a 10ft wall surrounding them."
Aesthetics Practitioner Nikki, has lived at her home with her children, husband Mario and mum Mhairi for the last 16 years. She described it as their "wee sanctuary" and their "happy place", but says she now fears they will be forced to move out over concerns for their safety and lack of privacy.
Niki continued: "We absolutely loved our home, but now I just feel stressed every time I look out of my windows. It's such a shame because we were all so happy living here until now."
Niki, who also works from home, has now put a sign up on her house which reads "How will you get in your back door when our windows are open? Whilst passing please preserve our privacy by not looking in our toilet window".
She told the paper that the builders asked her to close her bathroom window so they could put a scaffold up because there was not enough room for them to do so with it open.
She added: "Surely this highlights just how close it is to our house? It's not practical or safe for anyone.
"It's absolutely disgraceful that this has been allowed to happen. Why did Fife Council approve this application? I don't understand how they can think this is okay.
"I have no objections to homes being built on the land, but what is the need for it to be so close to our house? It's just sheer greed and disrespect.
"If the builders had only built one like they said they were going to at the beginning, it would have been fine, but there is not enough space for two."
She added: "We have absolutely zero privacy now. I can't even sit on my toilet without worrying that I'm going to be exposing myself or that someone is going to be looking in at me or my children.
"I just have to open the window and I can actually touch next door's house. It's ridiculous."
Fife Council Service manager Alastair Hamilton confirmed that the building has been built to comply with the approved planning permissions. He told the Daily Record: "Any boundary disputes are private legal issues for the parties to resolve.
"Land ownership is not related to the granting of planning permission. The building will have to comply with current building regulations and this will be checked before a Completion Certificate is accepted for the work.”
Robert F MacDonald, of Robert F MacDonald Solicitors, who is acting on behalf of KJJ builders and Alex Penman, said: "We understand that development on adjoining land can cause feelings among neighbours to run high, however my client’s are satisfied that they have complied with all the relevant planning and building control requirements in respect of the two properties which are currently being erected at this site.
"This is a former brown field site which had lain empty for many years. Mr and Mrs Caira had the opportunity to take part in the planning process and they expressed their views to the planning authority at that time.
"No doubt these were taken into account by the Fife Council in reaching their decision. Mr and Mrs Caira did have the opportunity to appeal the planning decision but did not do so.
"Slightly unusually, Mr and Mrs Caria’s property is built directly on the boundary between the two pieces of land. All the building work however has been conducted by my clients on ground owned by Mr Penman.
"There is sufficient room between the two houses for the scaffolding to be erected, and for access to repairs to either property in future if required. We understand that during the course of the scaffolding being erected the scaffolders asked Mrs Caira if a window (which opens over land belonging to our client) could be closed slightly to enable them to erect the scaffolding.
"The existence of the scaffolding does not prevent Mrs Caira from opening her window. Once the work has been completed there will be a 1.3 metre gap between the walls of the new build and Mr and Mrs Caira's house, which of course exceeds the statutory minimum."
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