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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Garden AIBU

27 replies

Summersalmostgone · 17/07/2016 17:35

I live in a terraced house with a good sized but not massive garden. want to buy my kids a swing set but a lot of them are too big. I want one of the big wooden ones.

I've seen one that's for small gardens and has everything we'd want but it's 9.5ft tall. Which means at the top my kids would have a clear view over quite a few of our neighbours gardens in several directions. Would I be unreasonable to get this??

OP posts:

Mollypollywolly · 17/07/2016 17:37

No I don't think so. We only had a small swing/slide/climbing frame set yet my kids could still see over into the neighbors garden. No one had a problem with this.

5Foot5 · 17/07/2016 17:50

I don't think that is a problem. Mind you when DD was small both neighbours with gardens joining ours had DC the same age. All three had climbing frames that were a similar height and they used to sit up there and chat to each other over the fences. It was quite sweet really.

PotteringAlong · 17/07/2016 17:51

No, ours goes over the wall.

Original poster

Summersalmostgone · 17/07/2016 17:54

Our neighbours don't have small children but they do all have loft conversions with Juliet balconies that overlook us......

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Mouikey · 17/07/2016 18:19

The only thing I would say is that it is nearly 3m in height... it maybe worth talking to your neighbours in advance of buying and showing them, this often results in less issues down the road.

If you don't get on with them or they are unhappy, they may report your to Planning Enforcement... now its been an eon since I did pd stuff so I cant advise you on it, but it can be a pain in the bum. You may wish to look at the planning portal who do offer online advice. I know it sounds stupid, but you should see some of the complaints that come in and have to be investigated (hence my original reference to the height).

OfstedAintEverything · 17/07/2016 18:53

It's no different to a trampoline, really, is it?
The neighbours are unlikely to mind: it would be polite to tell your immediate neighbours so they are not surprised when it pitches up unless you plan upon using it to spy on them in which case YABU...

MiaowTheCat · 17/07/2016 19:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Summersalmostgone · 17/07/2016 19:36

Ok so it's looking like positive replies all round.

I wasn't sure whether this was something likely to annoy people. There is a roof on the highest part so visibility may not be as far as I imagine.

OP posts:

EarthboundMisfit · 17/07/2016 19:38

This wouldn't bother me as a neighbour in the slightest.

pigsDOfly · 17/07/2016 19:41

Unless your DCs are going to sit on the top with a pair of binoculars and scan the neighbourhood can't see it would be a problem.

jlg22 · 17/07/2016 19:51

Do you mind linking to the set? We are looking for one for our dd but they all seem to be giant.

StarryIllusion · 17/07/2016 19:57

It wouldn't annoy me.

wheresthel1ght · 17/07/2016 20:11

Ours is about the same height and it hasn't bothered any of the neighbours other than next doors kids harping on they want on too. I didn't ask if they minded either - it's my garden and it's a swing set so I genuinely can't see the issue.

Original poster

Summersalmostgone · 17/07/2016 20:28

I don't know how to do links but look on www.selwood.com at the climbing frames for smaller gardens.

We may have a problem with height though as I hadn't considered planning!! Apparently it needs to be 2 metres from the boundary and we don't have the space.

OP posts:

SpringSpringSpring · 17/07/2016 20:28

It would bother us because we aren't currently overlooked - in your case it sounds as though the gardens aren't private anyway so that might make a difference. Either way, I'd talk to your actual neighbours.

Titsywoo · 17/07/2016 20:30

Mine isn't 2 metres from the boundary. And if you are putting it in properly you can make it a touch shorter by burying part of the legs when you anchor it. We did this accidentally and they are still high enough.

Original poster

Summersalmostgone · 17/07/2016 20:41

I've looked at the planning rules and they cannot be over 2.5 metres high if they are within 2 metres of a boundary and cannot have any raised platforms. So that rules out most of the ones designed for small gardens.

OP posts:

FantaIsFine · 17/07/2016 20:52

I got a bit of a fright last year when I was standing starkers at my garden-facing (long garden, not overlooked) bedroom window plucking my eyebrows (as you do) and realised my next door but one had a newly erected playhouse with upper deck directly looking in. Not sure if the kids copped a look.

It would never occur to me to complain but out of curiosity, could I have done? I stopped naked window appearances after I realised but I guess (?) it would be for them to have as a problem rather than me, or would I just be exposing myself?

Mouikey · 17/07/2016 21:20

Give your local planning dept a call tomorrow and double check - sorry to have been the party pooper but if you have issues with your neighbours it could cause more problems than it's worth 😔

Original poster

Summersalmostgone · 17/07/2016 21:35

Yeah I'm glad you warned me so thanks!
I'm not so much worried about immediate neighbours but it's a long terrace so somebody several houses up could get the jump.

I presume these rules don't apply to wooden swing/slide sets?

OP posts:

FantaIsFine · 17/07/2016 21:36

Thank you I might ask - they are a lovely family and it's my fault for wandering around unclothed. Really, I'm just academically interested. I don't think they have problems with me and I certainly don't with them! Unless the playhouse has further implications, would it? To a future buyer, I mean?

Original poster

Summersalmostgone · 17/07/2016 21:36

Hump not jump!

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FantaIsFine · 17/07/2016 21:37

So sorry I thought that answer was to me

Mouikey · 17/07/2016 22:02

No idea about when they apply or don't - give them a call and they should point you in the right direction x

Original poster

Summersalmostgone · 19/07/2016 11:16

Just as an update for anybody else thinking of buying a climbing frame , I contacted my local planning department who were useless. They can only advise me to put in for a lawful development certificate ( with fee!) and say they are unable to tell me otherwise what play equipment is permitted.

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