Neighbour problem

[Devonishome1]

Our neighbour has built this building in the bottom of his garden, only a small garden. We didn’t want to look at that view from our garden as it doesn’t look very nice. The building now has a roof on. We put two 8 foot panels in so that we can’t see it. We can still see the roof but the fence hides the breeze blocks. The neighbour is now complaining that our fence is too high. It’s only 2 panels so that it hides the view from our garden. Our neighbour can’t understand why we had a problem with the original fence was about 6 foot high.

Did he even get approval to build that shit pile?

Your neighbour is a twat

So he's built an 9ft+ garage and you're not allowed an 8ft fence?

The fence is too high for what? He's just being awkward.

And that's a bloody ugly shed. I'd hide it too.

If your fence is over 2 metres then it would require planning permission. Standard fencing is generally 1.8m. As long as you comply with that then let them complain to the local planning enforcement.

Sadly you will probably find that the building won’t need planning permission if it accords with the specified standards (have a look at the planning portal). This is the downside of permitted development rights because you end up with this crappy built stuff

The thing he has built is 2.5 m so it didn’t need planning permission. There were lots of complaints so an inspector came out and said it’s ok. The width is from our boundary up to his other neighbours boundary. It’s so close to his other neighbours boundary that they would not be able to take fence panels out to replace. He can’t understand why we have a problem with it!

So how is he even able to see your fence?

Although the building is very long it’s not too wide so part of the last fence panel sticks up about maybe 2 foot higher than the rest of our fence would do. Hope that explains it!

What a monstrosity. Can you grow some ivy over it?

Our new fence now covers it but I’m worried that if he complains to the council we will be made to take it back to 6 foot. Planning has been relaxed so much so people can pretty much build anything now! I wish I could show you the rest of the building but it would be too outing!

I don't understand garden fence law

if it's okay for him to build up to that height, it should be fine for you to build your fence that high.

how can he complain about it?! the mind boggles.

I agree! I just wanted other people’s perspectives on it. Could the council make us take our fence down or make us seek planning permission for it or would it be more of a civil matter?

OP you might get more advice in Legal matters or Property.

I’ll pop over there tomorrow or can I move this thread to legal?

Grow tall plants instead of the fence.

Plants will take time to grow and we’d need a lot for coverage plus we have our rabbits running free in the garden and we have to be careful about what we grow. The rabbits also tend to eat everything!

build a shed or orangery near to your fence pretty on your side but hideous on his (and paint it in disgustingly clashing colours facing his side)

I think if you turn your fence into a " pergola" you will find that it can be 2.5 m at the boundary and rise to 3m as it goes into your garden.

Then grow some roses up it like "rambling rector".

Or, turn your fence into a little shed and same height applies as his.

ooh I love a pergola

OP you can ask MN to move it to wherever you want it to go - the replies etc will go with it.

If he complains to the council, you can apply for retrospective planning permission for it. I can't see the local planners getting into too much of a froth about making you tear it down.

Retrospective is probably what they would prefer if he pushed it.
I would not panic on it, the guy is an eejit as anyone can see. I've got his twin brother and wife at the bottom of our little garden.

Make it into a "narrow pergola" and job's a good 'un. No rules to say that your pergola must not have a fence panel to the back of it.

Was the inspector from Planning or Buildings Control? If the building is over a certain proportion of the garden square footage it needs pp. Your fence is too high , maybe lower plus trellis would be better.

Wait for a bad storm and take the chance to cause some 'storm damage'. Your neighbour is an arse and has a cheek to complain to you after building that monstrosity.

I like the pergola option. Passive aggressive and pretty.

Quick growing hedge plants, and fence off properly from rabbits. I've done it, it's perfectly possible.

I would go with the pergola idea, it only needs to be narrow and you could have a little cosy seating area and fairy lights :) I think it might actually be cheaper to do that keeping it quite simple than retrospective planning and the faff involved would be.

We've recently built an outbuilding which is designed around planning laws so didn't require any, but it does impact the neighbours on one side (not unreasonably, we never used the garden but when we use the building we do have a view across the fence which is now noticeable). I paid for and installed trellis and they are growing nice plants on it (I do not have green fingers!) They then built a new patio thats raised so between us we have worked out privacy and gotten on with it so we can all enjoy our new garden spaces. What a shame your neighbour is being such a twat. I'd be tempted to paint the fence Mr blobby style ;)