Access - planning extension

[Accessgate]

My neighbour has just completed a single storey extension to the side and front of my house (on higher land) leaving a small side path way between the extension and the fence.

I didn't object as it is single storey and the planning permission included changing the access to their back garden to the other side of their house. A new access way to the garden was part of the plans.

However they have gone against this permission and put access gates down both sides of their house to their back garden so we now lose privacy.

Is there anything I can do?

How does this make you lose privacy if the access is on their land and behind your fence? Diagram?

Their land is much higher. I'll draw a diagram for you.

Diagramme please

If is always been higher then is it the same but you were just expecting it to be better once they moved it? It was a stipulation of planning then you can complain to planning. Otherwise what you do on own land that doesn't contravene planning is your business so not much you can do in that case

Yes it was a stipulation of planning permission that they moved access gate to the other side of their house. Clearly shown on the plans that our side would be closed off.

Hang on - just doing a plan .

Then your recourse is to planning. They will sort it for you :-)

Plan.

I suppose I'm asking whether planning can enforce it?

Or is it ok to put in different access ways to garden once it is built. Is there anything to stop them adding this additional gate?

Doubt it if it is their land. Are they using it and how high is the fence? Could you erect some trellis to give you more privacy.

Was the access down your side originally ?

Both new gates are on their land. The fence is standard height but unfortunately the side path is higher (ground slopes upwards steeply) so the fence comes up to their shoulder height & they look down into my garden.

It is their fence so I can't put trellis on it.

Didn't think they would go back on the planning permission.

Was the access down your side originally?

Yes but it was down the side of their house before the new extension so well away from us.

I’d ring the council or look online and fill out a breach of planning form but frankly I wouldn’t think they will make them change it , however I would put in an objection . If they don’t have to change it could you get some very tall willow or bamboo screening to put along the offending fence line .

You could ask them to increase the height of the fence, or put up your own your side. Is the narrower access likely to fall out of use due to inconvenience. I don't think it would form part of the pp to specify rear garden access, regardless of the plans.

If they've breached their planning conditions then you should talk to the council planning dept. I've no idea if they'll do anything but it's your only option.

Bamboo and willow is a good idea.

I'll contact the planning authority too.