Neighbours taking the piss?

[LiteraryDevil]

My mum's neighbours that is. They have raised their decking by about a foot and erected scaffolding type fencing around. She's lost all her privacy as now on s level with her bedroom window and well above her garden. Do they need planning permission for this? I've tried to attach a photo.

Planning permission will be needed depending upon the height. I’m not sure what the restrictions are but I’m sure you could google it to find out.

So ugly too. I'd call the county planning office and ask about the rules and whether they had planning permission how come she wasn't informed.

It just appeared before Christmas. She was horrified and now it's getting warmer and she wants to be in the garden she's really aware of the lack of privacy. And yes it's fecking ugly!

What an eyesore- those lights too! Def a piss take especially on the privacy front. Why would they want something like that - everyone can see them too, very odd.

Might be worth talking to her local parish councillor too - they seem to know these things and if not able to talk to the neighbours directly, are able to point you in the right direction of the people that you do need to speak to.

Which way is the sun? Could your mum put something tall on that side of the garden (trellis above the fence, bamboo (in a pot so it doesn't take over the garden, or special non invasive bamboo), tree, gunnera plant, golf practice net, anything... that will block their view of her garden and hopefully block their sunshine... might make them want to sit out and look over at her less.

Not so good if it ends up blocking her sun though!

Any raised deck/verandah etc that is 30cm above ground level requires planning permission.
Speak to the enforcement officer at your local council.

Seeline is right, also I think you need planning permission if it affects the privacy or value of neighbouring properties, which this clearly does. (What is with that ugly metal scaffolding? )

You need planning permission in NI for decking and I imagine the rules will be similar where you are, OP.

It's strange because the neighbours are losing their privacy too by looking as if they're sitting on a stage

You'd need to check planning regulations to try and get that monstrosity moved!

official guidance here

Here you go .... if it's more than 0.3 meters high, they need permission.

www.planningni.gov.uk/index/advice/advice_apply/advice_apply_homes/advice_around_home/advice_home_fences.htm

I speak from bitter experience on this one. Report immediately to your local planning department.

The rule about decking needing PP is that if any part of it is under 30cm from the natural ground level it will all be OK (subject to them covering, together with all outbuildings, no more than 50% of the total garden area). This applies to all the decking on the same level. By that I mean they can't have steps up in the level of the decking if no part of the raised decking is less than 30ck from the ground.

Are you sure that horrible scaffolding thing is permanent? Could it be they're building something up? Looks so weird.

Hdh they've got matching plant pots hanging from it so I guess so. Those bulbs are bright too and shine into my mums bedroom at night.

It certainly looks like it would need planning permission.

Speak to your local planning department, tell them what's been built and ask them whether this is permitted development. Don't leave it too long, as the longer you leave it, the more 'acceptable' it will become. The planning department can then decide what action they want to take next.

If you then run into problems, talk to you local councillor.

Yeah, I would say talk to someone soon, bad though it is they could be planning on building something even worse, so get it sorted asap if poss.

That looks really strange! The scaffolding just makes it look like a building site. Hopefully they are going to grow something completely up that to cover it somehow.

I would consider putting something along the top of that fence if possible.

www.google.co.uk/search?q=top+of+fence+trellis&rlz=1CASMAE_enGB618GB619&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjV8OLg58jaAhXKD8AKHW0EBWwQ_AUICygC&biw=1093&bih=503

Why would raising it a foot make such a difference? What am I missing?

Thanks everyone for the replies. My mum daren't say anything to them as they have paid for the fence as it needed replacing and was her fence. As a pensioner she could t afford to do it though so they chose what they wanted and sorted it. They moved in about 20 months ago and have been doing renovations almost constantly which has been noisy at all hours. She just feels she can't say anything though and doesn't want to cause any bad feeling between them. They have never discussed it with her, they just did it.

Nothing a few leylandii won't sort out! Neighbours are CFs.

You call on her behalf, give your address (if one is needed). She can honestly say she didn’t know a thing about it, and they get the inspection and notice to tear it down within 30 days, that they so richly deserve.

Presumably it affects other neighbours too - although obviously your Mum most significantly.

Is anyone else (who doesn't feel indebted to them) prepared to call?

Mmm, I dunno if you could speak to planning dept and at least get some info that she could think about. Maybe a black out blind for her bedroom in the meantime so she can at least get better sleep?

It looks like some set up you'd get at a crappy festival. I'd been fuming if my neighbours did that shit.

From what you said in your initial post it may not need planning permission, if its a foot thats 30.5cm so if they are a fraction under that it could be allowed without. Are the properties built on a hill with your mum's house/garden being at a lower height than theirs? It is a monstrosity!