Please help - neighbour issues

[Nextdoorpeeping]

We have lived here for 4 years, next door neighbours 3.5. Both bought do er uppers. Next door have over developed theirs it due to personal circumstances did not raise concerns at planning (family bereavement, severe illness of my own). Add to this the dh of next door is not a nice character. So three things combined, didn’t want hassle. Skip to now - they can see directly into garden, have a patio and balcony overlooking straight into ours (and they often do). I don’t want to move as area otherwise perfect.

Is there anything we can do now house has been built? As council to retrospectively review breaches of privacy etc?

Please help as becoming a huge issue for me (adding to anxiety)

As they have went through the planning process it seems and you were asked at the time, I would say not.

Sorry - too late. But you can put up fences and plant trees?

Draw us a diagram. I bet a landscape designer would really be able to help.

I would imagine you would have to create privacy on your own property? Curtains? Screening in garden?

Have they planning permission for everything they've done? If not you can contact planning enforcement at your local council. But they probably will only regularise the situation rather than order them to tear it down.

How high can I put trees etc on my side? Google is confusing. Surely they can’t object for light if I can prove no privacy?

Ps thought as much re planning

If they're massively overlooking you, they might have breached the limits of their planning permission.

Go on your council's planning portal online, and search for the address. It'll give you the detail of their permission.

You can nevertheless ask the council's planning department for advice about what you can do.

I think landscape architect or garden designer could really minimise this for you.

If you really wanted privacy you could put a leylandi hedge in, but it will affect your own light as much as it effects theirs.