neighbours extension totally overlooks my garden, aibu to put up a 8ft bamboo screen?

[twoopsie]

Its only just dawned on me now the windows have gone in how overlooked my garden will be with neighbours extension.

I want to put in a 8ft by 10ft bamboo screen well within my boundrys. It would block out their side view but not any light.

Aibu? They didn't consult me at all about having four huge windows overlooking my garden.

Can you plant a couple of tall bushes or small trees instead, you would have to do some reseach to find out what would be suitable (not too big, ok roots etc) It wouldn't be a 'fence' but would provide privacy.

I'd put the fence up & deal with the complaint if it ever comes.

Wrote a huge post and lost it - I know how upsetting this can be - my (nightmare anyway) neighbour built raised decking ... and we are on a slope. So my 6ft fence was knee height from his decking, the edge of it was less than a metre from my kitchen window. From his table on it he could see into all my kitchen, most of my living room and all my garden. He didn't work and spent all day out in his garden in summer if the weather was reasonable - used to watch his tv sat on the decking through the patio doors - and only on holiday a week or so a year. And because of the view was always looking our way. I was gutted.
So a few points ...
If he had had a conservatory (his original idea) he would have needed planning permission and would have had to have frosted glass on our side (which he didn't want because that is the side with a view) because of invasion of privacy.
A year later planning laws changed and he would have need permission as he had raised his ground level more than 5ft.
Even without planning permission there are rules -it may be building control you need to speak to (In our case it shouldn't have been allowed closer than a m from the boundary -it is 0.5m - but BC turned a blind eye and I didn't know to create a fuss -by the time I did it was too late.
If I wanted to build a higher fence I would need planning permission - it would need to be 10ft high to give us any privacy ....
And it is on the south side so would block out the sun most days and so close to the kitchen window as to be claustrophobic.
I looked at bamboo (growing) as the best option - wouldn't need permission and what I would have done - except he kept saying he was moving and I thought new owner might be more open to compromise...(He died suddenly a couple of years ago -house is now empty. I vaguely know who will be living there -nice, sensible, reasonable - pretty confident we can come to an arrangement.)
Otherwise I thought bamboo in pots on wheels - so you can move them and still get the light etc

What room are the windows in ? A bedroom I wouldn't worry - they won't be sitting looking out of them - just the odd glance. Even a living area - are they more likely to be staring out of them -admiring the view? whilst at the kitchen sink ?
Finally I agree to what someone saying blinds are not really the answer...they allow the other person to be in control of your privacy.
I had blinds up in my kitchen window and kept them closed. Neighbour used to lean on the decking rail...staring at the view/into our garden etc. (He once accused me of skulking behind my blinds - I was sitting at the the breakfast bar reading and looked up to find him staring at me through a crack in the blinds -I nearly jumped out of my skin )
When we had a new kitchen fitted the blinds had to come down and I never put them back...without them he felt more uncomfortable standing leaning over the fence - he actually suggested to DP we put them back and invested in one of those awning things too...
I would try and be diplomatic though and not fall out with your neighbour - it is horrible being at logger heads with them.
(Still a huge post - hope it helps and good luck - losing your privacy is horrible)

If you do choose bamboo choose the right one. Some are very invasive.

I prefer native shrubs personally. A copper beech in a large tub would look lovely throughout the year and if you keep it a the right height it will grow nice and bushy.

The royal horticultural society has some info on screening plants.

I can't copy and paste but just look up, 'screening plants + RHS'

OP I don't think you can do anything about people being able to see in your windows. My home is on a hill with the houses behind being higher. Occupants of these houses can all see through my bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, conservatory and dining room windows easily. I have trees in my garden which, over the 20 odd years we've lived here, have now grown massively (taller than house) and block out much of neighbours view . They cast a lot of shadow on my conservatory but I'm not getting rid of them because I like the privacy they give me.

I hope you can get some sort of short term solution though.

Gosh unlucky I really feel for you. Mine isn't nearly as bad, but its similar with the slope here. Did you do any screening before he died?

When I say bamboo I'm talking about buying a 1.5*4 premade screen and attaching two of them to poles. Not really thought of live plants, might put a lenandi in a old bin to grow, ugly I know but might grow quick enough.

What I'm thinking about now is doing half trellis at the bottom and then a row of screening at the top. Then if I'm made to remove the screening can hopefully replace it with trellis and the plants would be established by then. So the structure will be 3m high, but the blocking part only 1.5

I think its fine to chuck up some bamboo ASAP if you want your privacy back.

Oh you're talking about basically a massive fence. less R but still not totally U.

Real bamboo does grow quick and looks quite nice though.

No I didn't do any screening before he died - whatever I do from my side won't be great - because of it being south/the sun and because of being so close to the window - a fence would make it prison like ...growing bamboo is the best option.
And he was an awkward character anyway -this was actually the least of my problems with him. And whatever I put up he would have vandalised -at the other end of the garden I had an elder I was trying to grow to give us some privacy in that area of the garden at least and he used to trim it back to suit him - even coming all the way round into our garden to do it.
Once I realised what a bully he was I got braver - so instead of hiding from him I made him feel uncomfortable...said hello loudly and enthusiastically etc and waved - and told him I had nothing to be ashamed of but he did...

If I were you -depending on the rest of the plants in your garden I would be tempted with growing bamboo- even if in pots -you can get it that grows up to 5m and it is fast growing...and it is completely legal...even on the boundary....

Yes I guess so, its only going to be massive as the houses are build up by 3ft, if it was all level ground wouldnt be huge

OP have you considered privacy film for your windows, it effectively turns your windows into a one way mirror so you can see out but not in. A few houses round the corner from me that look out onto the local playpark have put it up so they don't have kids staring in all the time.

Have you spoken to your neighbour about your concerns?

It's very scary how easy it is for people to be able to devalue their neighbours property with their extensions.

I wouldn't buy a house that was very overlooked.

I saw a planning approval for an extension not long ago, and it specified that any new windows to the side (facing the neighbours) had to be above eye level, or with frosted glass.

Is that not usual?

Leylandii anyone?

www.leylandii.com/

If you have cash to spare you can buy a stilted hedge for instant privacy. That or bamboo in huge pots (Golden bamboo is tall growing). Cherry laurel also grows fast and bushy giving good privacy.

I do feel your pain OP. A few years ago our neighbour chopped down some trees leaving us with 2 large upper floor windows totally overlooking our house and garden. I agree with Tiggytape as we had a private garden previous to this so you never know what your neighbours will do - or build! We planted trees and bamboos and neighbour did put blinds up but then sold up and the new neighbours have now taken blinds down and their kids stare in at us all the time. Needless to say my trees/bamboo will be growing pretty tall!

Living Black or golden bamboo - doesn't get affected by high hedges legislation as is grass not trees. Get the clumping kind not the ramping kind.
www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/extensions/ give you permitted development rights.
No reason why you can't check with the planning office if they needed permission. No reason why you can't yourself apply for planning to put up a higher than 2m screen, but sound out the planning office first.

Have you seen any planning notices at all regarding the extension?

I think you have several options, speak to the neighbours tell them you are not happy and want the windows to be obscured glass due to your loss of privacy.

If they refuse ( quite likely) then speak with the planning team and ask what can be done legally to maintain your privacy.

I'm a planner, the 2m is from the ground level on which the fence is erected. Why don't you just apply for planning permission for the fence, and then put it up?

Whatever you do I wouldnt buy leylandii. It's hideous and is subject to the high hedge legislation. You can get slower growing varieties but there are so many other beautiful plants and trees out there I don't know why you would. The only thing they have going for them is that they are cheap.

Yea I know what you mean about blinds but I think you have to go on the assumption that everyone wants their privacy?

Piglet we've been told our bathroom windows facing in need to be obscured but they would be anyway. Our bedroom window & living room windows do not need to be obscured.

Good link re walls etc - we have a party wall which goes into unsightly posts & wire & we plan to erect a 6ft wooden fence on our side - gd to know that doesn't breach anything!!