Any idea what this is likely to be?

[MortenHarketsarms]

This wooden structure has appeared right on the boundary with our next door neighbours. Is it some sort of fence or the framework for a garden building? Something else? You can see from the picture how close it is to our sitting room window and I’m worried it might end up with a pitched roof and cut out light. I know I should go round and ask but don’t want to be an interfering neighbour and wondered if anyone here could shed some light? Thanks.

Image is currently under review

Timber frame for a building - can't tell you what type though.

Have you checked d your local planning portal?

It’s the framing for a flat roof garden room I’d say

It’s the framing for a garden outbuilding.
I really wouldn’t go and ask what they’re doing, you’ll come across as overbearing.

https://www.harperlatterarchitects.co.uk/post/garden-room-building-regulations-uk-complete-guide

assuming you’re in UK. A lot of can be done under the permitted development rules - ie without planning permission. Key things - how close to your boundary. Are you in conservation area?

Thank you both - I’ll check the planning portal.

You don’t need planning permission if it’s an outbuilding that isn’t used for living accommodation and falls within the permitted development parameters.

Won’t be anything there I’d say. You are adjoining so if it was something that required planning you’d have received notification during consultation stage.

@KidsDoBetterit’s right on the boundary and about eight feet from our sitting room window.

It’s probably some sort of shed, OP.

Yes it looks close. In which case the maximum height (including insulation and roof covering) is 2.5m. They can’t do a pitched roof.

It’s very rude to just start this without speaking to you. I’d go round with a smile and just ask to confirm they are aware it can’t be any higher than that? And to show you any drawings. If it’s within that height constraint, less than 30m2, not designed for overnight occupation then nothing you can do. Anything beyond that - eg a granny flat or pitched roof you could report them for planning breach.

It’s more than a shed IMO. A shed is a prefab type construction. Garden rooms because they have insulation etc have this type of framed construction

Definitely no shed, that's proper timber frame construction.

And ref planning - plenty of people miss planning notifications if they are done, and plenty more people fail to apply for planning where it's needed...... Worth a check.

Can you guestimate how high it is @MortenHarketsarms ? How high is your wall? Worrying. You need to act fast to ascertain whether it's within permitted development rules, if it isn't and they ask them to take it down or modify it better now than when it's finished. Good luck.

I'm probably not getting the correct perspective from the pic, but the structure so far looks higher than 2.5m as it is.

If it's legal in the end, then I think you might consider a trellis on top of the wall in front of it, if that's yours - the grey stone wall, to camouflage it somwhat,

How highs your garden wall? If it’s 6ft, it looks like your neighbor is going upto the allowed amount of 2.5m high (looks around that) and it will likely fall within permitted development

True, but that looks potentially too tall for PD and a party wall agreement looks like it might be needed given its proximity.

Go round and ask. If nothing else, you’ll need to know where the rainwater is draining too…

@KidsDoBetterthat’s why I was so taken aback. I know it’s almost certainly something they can do but it seems so rude to just do it without saying anything. Thanks for the information re pitched roofs etc. I hope whatever they’re doing is following the regulations - the last thing I want is to fall out with them.

This is a good point and not something that had occurred to me. Thank you.

How high is your wall? If it's the standard 2 m, then the height of that garden room must be over the allowed level.

So rude not to talk to you in advance.

Don't worry about falling out. They aren't bothered about you or they would have mentioned it.

I doubt it, it’s almost certainly abides by the 2.5m rule as we have OP’s wall for comparison.
If her window was so close to the wall and the wall was well over 2m then she wouldn’t have as much view above the wall as she does have.
So the wall is likely under 2m which gives us an indication of the height of the structure.

Could it be a pergola?
Altho' I admit the timbers are a bit heavy for growing roses up.

It’s not a pergola.