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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be sorry we've lost our nice view?

155 replies

Timetochange11 · 25/06/2021 07:44

We have an elevated bit of garden level with our upstairs windows with a lovely view of a field and woods. Yesterday our neighbour put an office type chalet up in the field right in our line of vision, sure we'll get used to it but it looks so out of place in the country.

OP posts:
HeronLanyon · 25/06/2021 09:34

Lots saying they don’t need planning etc are forgetting this is aonb and for a reason. The /planning issues I’ve dealt with were remarkable strong about protecting the aonb and no way would this have been allowed. It would have required a planning application an environmental impact assessment etc. It would have been refused , been required if allowed to be built closer to the house and conditions for it not to be used other than ancillary to the house - ie no renting out. Would also have been conditions re light pollution and siting of windows in relation to various views Re light pollution. Aonbs are for a reason and need to be protected.

alrightfella · 25/06/2021 09:35

Personally I'd say something. It could also put off future buyers if you ever decide to move.

DGFB · 25/06/2021 09:35

Oh come on, it’s their land

DGFB · 25/06/2021 09:36

Sorry, just read the updates on it being AONB

HeronLanyon · 25/06/2021 09:37

Just as an example of impact if I were looking to buy ops house (should she be selling) no way would I buy with ‘accommodation block’ or even potential such use that I’d need to do something about looking into the back of my house in that setting. Obviously elsewhere it may be no problem at all and standard stuff for all neighbours and permitted etc.

Mischance · 25/06/2021 09:37

I would be right royally pissed off. It may be agricultural land, but that is not an agricultural building.

PurpleyBlue · 25/06/2021 09:39

@Timetochange11

It's a blot! Because it's new and sort of right in front of us it's all.we see for now. It's also about 100 yards from her back door, she could have had it nearer her house and we wouldn't have really noticed it. We are in an area of outstanding beauty, she told our other neighbours she was putting up a summerhouse in her garden.
Oh! If its an AONB then I'd take it further. Its not really adding to the beauty!
randomkey123 · 25/06/2021 09:39

We reported our NDN who put up a massive summerhouse/bar in their garden to entertain in over lockdown. It's completely blocked out our light and the noise from it is horrendous. We reported anonymously to the council, and the enforcement team were out inspecting it within days.

Thankfully it's appeared on the local council enforcement page as an unauthorised building, i'm just hoping that they're not allowed to apply for restrospective planning permission.

80sMum · 25/06/2021 09:43

YANBU. I too would be sad to lose a nice view, OP.

Original poster
Timetochange11 · 25/06/2021 09:49

We also have a small field next to our house which we sometimes have a couple of lambs on. This is not sour grapes btw. We asked the planning department if we could put a small stable on it 5 years ago to house them at night. We were told no as it would be change of use to equestrian and would be in sight of our neighbours. Dh was able to build a small field shelter under the tees instead with no floor that can be moved. It's great and works really well, I just don't understand why she thought she could put it in the middle of her field and didn't say anything to us!

OP posts:
Seeline · 25/06/2021 09:51

they're always told that loss of a view isn't a valid planning objection

This is true to a certain extent. However, in this instance the view concerns an AONB - something protected by law for its intrinsic beauty. It is not the OPs personal private view that is being protected but that of the general public.

HeronLanyon · 25/06/2021 09:57

seeline agreed. AONBs take into account views from all sorts of vantage points and how prominent in the protected landscape any proposed structure would be. This often tangentially does protect everyone’s views from all over, simply by preserving the AONB for everyone’s benefit.

Original poster
Timetochange11 · 25/06/2021 10:09

Would it be outing to show a picture of the view before it went up? It only shows sheep and our fence

OP posts:
1dayatatime · 25/06/2021 10:11

@NettleTea

LIZS
Fencing off an area does not make it into garden. 
agree. and I would step very careful here with the ignoring it, because if they have 'created' a new area, sperate from the official curtilage of the house, you have the first steps to a whole new property.

NettleTea is absolutely right here so I wouldn't just ignore it.

The way the "game" is played is:

  1. let's assume you own a field next to your house / garden.
  2. you then fence off a section of field and incorporate it into the garden without planning permission. This is illegal but you do it subtly with a few trees and mow it (ie not a whacking great summer house from the start )
  3. After 3 years you apply for a change of use on the agricultural field to become garden stating that it has been used as a garden for 3 years with no objections.
  4. Lawfully get planning to build a large summer house in the new part of the garden
  5. After a few years lawfully get planning to change the large summer house into a house or houses.

Given that agricultural land is worth £10 to £15k an acre and that an acre of land with planning permission to build a house or houses is worth anything from £100k to £500k (depending on where in the UK, views, what house or houses have permission) etc .

This is clearly a very profitable and popular "game" that I have seen done a few times. So NettleTea's advice is right not to ignore it.

into the field by

1dayatatime · 25/06/2021 10:15

@randomkey123

"Thankfully it's appeared on the local council enforcement page as an unauthorised building, i'm just hoping that they're not allowed to apply for restrospective planning permission."

They are of course entitled to apply for retrospective planning permission but whether they get it or not is a different question. Planning Departments generally take dim view of people ignoring planning rules.

Clymene · 25/06/2021 10:17

@Timetochange11

We also have a small field next to our house which we sometimes have a couple of lambs on. This is not sour grapes btw. We asked the planning department if we could put a small stable on it 5 years ago to house them at night. We were told no as it would be change of use to equestrian and would be in sight of our neighbours. Dh was able to build a small field shelter under the tees instead with no floor that can be moved. It's great and works really well, I just don't understand why she thought she could put it in the middle of her field and didn't say anything to us!
Because she knew you'd object. She also knew she wouldn't get planning permission so hasn't applied.

AONBs are beautiful because you can't just whack up any old structure you fancy.

Original poster
Timetochange11 · 25/06/2021 10:18

Yes you're right, a summerhouse is not the end of the world but a house would be really intrusive.

OP posts:
notapizzaeater · 25/06/2021 10:24

Presume if people are going to be living in it it's got electric and stuff ? I'd be hoping to bump into the councillor and see what they say

LolaSmiles · 25/06/2021 10:31

People are allowed to put temporary dwellings on agricultural land as long as they have the permission of the landowner, so depending on the nature of the structure they might be able to have their summer house under that.

There has been a rise in people converting Shepherd's huts, building summer houses or offices in renovated horse boxes or lorry bases that can technically be moved. I only found out about this on something like George Clarke's amazing spaces.

TheoMeo · 25/06/2021 10:42

Our neighbouring farmer needed planning permission for 2 pods on his field. This is in Scotland.

Blossomtoes · 25/06/2021 10:45

@TheoMeo

I used to have no truck with so-called nimbys but recently realised how important veiws, trees, landscapes are to well being. People buy a property with a view or close to countryside - it's not nimbyism to be upset that the point of your purchase is changed by someone else. It's also the biggest purchase you will make in your life and can't be easily changed if you don't have the money.
And it’s a risk you take. We’ve rejected houses with amazing views because of the possibility of building. We couldn’t afford the ones where that was guaranteed never to happen.

I really sympathise, OP, but give it six months, your eye will get used to it and you won’t notice it.

LIZS · 25/06/2021 10:50

@LolaSmiles

People are allowed to put temporary dwellings on agricultural land as long as they have the permission of the landowner, so depending on the nature of the structure they might be able to have their summer house under that.

There has been a rise in people converting Shepherd's huts, building summer houses or offices in renovated horse boxes or lorry bases that can technically be moved. I only found out about this on something like George Clarke's amazing spaces.

Not in an AONB.
MumBowJumBow · 25/06/2021 10:56

I'd say something
It's not for her to ruin an AOOB for her own means
It's for everyone to enjoy

VeganVeal · 25/06/2021 11:35

As Kirsty Alsop says 'if you dont own the land you dont own the view'

LolaSmiles · 25/06/2021 11:37

LIZS
I didn't realise that. I thought some of the people on there were in areas of natural beauty.