or is my neighbour?

[ClimbingFrameWars]

We have lived in our house for 3 years now, and have always got on ok with the neighbours - not best friends, but know them to chat to, children have been to play there a couple of times, theirs have come here a couple of times, etc. All well and good.

We are wanting to build a new climbing frame/swing set for the children. We have got an independent company in to design and build as our dd has SN, and is already a bit too big for easily available commercial ones, and we want this to last her a while - she loves being outdoors and playing, and this is not going to change through her teenage years and beyond.

Our neighbour on the side where the frame is planned to go is upset. The frame height etc are all within legal parameters for height and distance from boundary etc. currently, we have a hideous concrete block wall along that side of the garden, at a height of nearly 2.5m on our side. Their garden is higher than ours, such tht their small children (6 ish) can easily stand head height above the wall on the path on their side.

Their garden is enclosed on all 3 sides (both sides and the bottom of the garden) by this wall. They also have trees (on the other side belonging to their neighbours) on one side and at the bottom (belonging to them, obv) which are a good 4ft higher than the wall, at least. Neighbour is upset because if we build te frame where we want it, it will disturb their view across our garden and out onto the fields behind our bottom fence (and their bottom wall + trees).

We don't want to start a neighbour dispute, but surely this is taking entitled to a new level? They could, if they so wanted, get rid of the trees which actually block their view to the fields from their own garden, and lower/take out their wall? Surely they don't have a valid objection to is building the climbing frame where we want to and blocking their view across our garden?

Our other options are to build it across the bottom of our garden, this blocking our own view across the fields, or we could build it along the other side - neighbour not overly enthusiastic, but not bothered either - but this would leave us with the unsightly wall (which we are happy to hide) as well as giving us problems wrt fence maintenance (fence on other side belongs to us), and just isn't where we want it in the (not over large) garden.

I think it's what you're used to. If the shed was/is smaller than the climbing frame, and presumably it was to one side of their vista, then I can imagine they had got used to it. Now their view will be 'spoiled' by a much bigger structure which they feel will restrict a view they've presumably enjoyed for many years.

Nothing that can be done though - just trying to explain why they might feel the way they do . We can get very territorial about our homes, and any change that we feel is to its detriment can be upsetting.

So the climbing frame is replacing a shed and bush that was already there ? If so, then their 'view' isnt going to be compromised anymore than it was (not that they have a right to a view)

I think they are cheeky expecting you to dance to their tune over a fricking view across your garden when they have their own view blocked with trees

They don't have a right to a view. But speaking purely personally, I hate the look of climbing frames and wouldn't fancy being able to see one right in my face from my back window.

As for the concrete wall - is there any possibility its holding the garden next door in place, since their garden is so much higher than yours?

I can honeslty see their view re: change . But surely no one can reasonably expect all surrounding gardens to stay exactly as they were when you bought your property?

The bit of the frame replacing the shed is the same footprint as the shed, iyswim, and, whatever your (their!) views on climbing frames, has to end up better looking, as it will not be an unsightly falling down monstrosity.

Right, off to do lunch for dc, and then will walk through how much we can move frame by in garden, once ds is down for his nap (our garden is his idea of heaven at the moment - lots of digging and power tools - can't let him loose out there!)

Oldraver - well, quite.

Chelsy - yes, it may well be. But we aren't trying ot move the wall. It is horrible (on our side) but it's there, and all fine. We are building a frame in our garden, along that side of the garden, thus hiding the hideous wall from our view. We won't be mucking about with wall integrity, so no worries for them on that score.

Really am off to do lunch now.

No, you can't expect surrounding gardens to stay the same - but when you perceive (rightly or wrongly) that changes that are being imposed upon you are to the detriment of your view and surrounds then it's hard to get past that. I really don't know what you do here - you feel a large climbing frame is better than what's there at the moment, and that legally they don't have a leg to stand on, they feel it's worse than what's there and it will spoil the view they've enjoyed for many years. It's a difficult one, isn't it? Hope you manage to resolve it without too much frostiness from them

Oh, it's a nightmare tbh.

Next doors dd will be joining my younger dc's school in Sept, so we will see each other on school run etc. (and there is a LOT of parental involvement at school - I am forever up there!) so hopefully life will not be too awkward.

We were anticipating far more grumbling from neighbours on the other side when we clear that boundary, as the fence is a lot lower, so just clearing it will mean a certain loss of privacy, and tey don't have small children, so to go from screened off seclusion to a clear boundary with children aying is quite a difference. They, however, have taken it on the chin and accepted that we will do whatever suits is with our garden.

So the climbing frame is replacing a shed and bush that was already there but a standard shed is less than 3.5m tall. 4m height is very tall for no pp requirement but assume you have double checked .

YABU.

Why not build it so it blocks your view?

This reminds me of a neighbour we used to live next door to.

They kept big dogs and instread of burying the dogshit near their own house, they used to put it in piles as far away from their own house as possible, but it was very close to where we sat on our patio on the other side of the wall..

They didn't want the smell, but were happy for their neighbours to experience it.

Selfish.

The shed is built on the end of our terrace, so a height of over 1m higher than our garden. The overall height of the frame measured from the lowest point (our garden) is under 3.5m. It all sound really complicated, but honestly it all complies with regs.

Waterducksback - if we build it where it blocks our view (and really, why should we when the neighbours only want our view because they have already blocked their own ) then it will also block the neighbours view anyway. Building it in a different place will not mean they retain their unrestricted view across our garden.

And I'm really not seeing how building a climbing frame which is within all legal requirements is in any way comparable to dumping dogshit next to your patio

Look this neighbour already looks into your garden, with a complete loss of privacy. They don't have a leg to stand on.

It sounds amazing. I really want to see a photo when it's done and you really will have lots of children at your door.

sounds to me like you're being considerate and reasonable. it's nice to keep the peace, but sometimes people just won't meet half way. meh

You want it so put it at the bottom of your garden,blocking your view and not your neighbours!!

Nottinghill rtft love. That will block the neighbours view also

Nobody, NOBODY, under planning laws, is entitled to a view.
Hope that helps.
You sound reasonable OP, I hope it works out.

I can see why they are upset.
Who wants to look at a great big ugly climbing frame?
Trees and shrubs are much better to look at.

I agree waterducks back!!!!

I'd agree they are entitled to be angry, but they're still not entitled to a view!

I agree they're entitled to be irritated and rant about it between themselves.

I couldn't disagree more with the opinions that the neighbours have any right to dictate where the op should put the climbing frame in her own garden, especially as they have chosen to block their own view and can correct this very easily if it's that important to them.

Neighbour has now been around 3'times to complain. Today she turned up while the contractors were clearing the garden (no work has started on the frame yet, as so much too clear in general), to inform them she had been down to the council to complain.

The main point this time seemed to be she had not been given any notice that we were going to do this. And when the contractor mentioned we were redesigning (in a clearly misguided attempt to take her concerns on board) she was huffy that she hadn't been notified or consulted. She made a point of calling all the workmen together to announce this, and patronise and talk down to the boss in front of them all. Nice.

Clearly the woman is just loopy.

Redesign is under way, as we don't want there to be any technicality at all she can officially complain about - I thought we were being a little OTT doing this (my concern was eg 'no platform' being held to rule where steps/platform/slide was concerned - real jobsworth stuff), but obviously I was right in my anticipation

She will be fuming as the amount we have cleared now gives her little privacy on their terrace at all (had a shed and a gigantic ivy slowly working through our garage roof before). Ho hum. Never a dull day round these parts

I'm confused - I thought you were 'just' putting a big climbing frame in your garden. It seems from your last post that this is actually a bit more - are you also clearing old buildings which gave her privacy? And what is the 'redesign'?

We are clearing our garden. We have taken down the tumbledown shed (before it finally collapsed on one of us). Given the design of her garden, this means that the wall where our shed used to be (about shoulder height on our side, but about mid thigh height on her side) is now bare. There should have been a roofed structure (basically providing shade for the bit of the climbing frame with the slide coming off it) replacing this, so no difference from their side - a manky old roof being replaced with a nice one, at the same height. But now there won't be, as technically, any platform is not allowed (although you have to be a particular kind of arse to complain about a waist high platform leading to a children's slide, imo, especially one for a severely disabled child who can no longer access public playgrounds - not her problem, I know, but nonetheless fact).

The redesign will incorporate all the same features, just in a way which means there are no potential technical complaints. This may make it a bit too challenging for dd1 currently (eg a slide with no nice stable platform to arrange herself on) but we will work on that, as we don't really have any other option.

Oh, and I'm just waiting for her to complain about us removing somethig which was causing damage to our property meaning a loss of privacy for her - given the way they have arranged their garden means we have no privacy at all (and have never complained even though we cannot set foot in our garden without being interrogated by one or other of the children next door.