Neighbours built extension right up to my window (but it's perfectly legal)

Neighbours living next door to Lucy East have been extending their Churchill Road bungalow for several months after moving in around a year ago.

But Lucy - who bought her own property in 2006 - said she has been left "upset and frustrated" after she wasn't informed of the decision to build the wall, which appeared in the space of just hours this June.

And after complaining to planners at the Borough of Poole, Lucy managed to halt the structure's build before it blocked her window entirely, stretching to the roof of her neighbours' home.

"I opened the blinds and there it was - it was a huge shock," she said

"I don't have any problems at all with someone having the money to refurbish and renovate their home.

"I think that's a good thing - they're obviously working hard to make it a lovely place to be, and good on them. But it's getting to a point where it's just common decency.

"I've been told that they don't need planning permission for the wall. They've told me outright that it's on their land, and essentially it's tough. But it's inches away from the window.

"This is my home and it's making me feel so upset."

The wall is just part of a programme of works taking place at the bungalow, which Lucy said is being extended into the roof, the basement and to the side of the property.

It is believed that a number of people live at the address, including grandparents, their children and their grandchildren.

Lucy said: "I've been over on a number of occasions to try and reach a compromise.

"At one point, I went over and they said the wall had been lowered. I told them it hadn't, and I had a photograph which showed it hadn't and was the same height as it had always been. But they insisted it had. When I asked them to come over and see it for themselves, they refused and I had to leave.

"I just think it's getting to a point where it's beyond a joke."

She said her neighbours had initially planned to build the wall to the height of the bungalow's roof, which would have blocked the dining room window altogether.

"I had to get the council involved," she said.

"I'm at the point where I've been warned I could spend thousands on legal fees trying to get the wall taken down. I don't have thousands and I haven't objected to anything else. I just want the wall to be lowered."

The neighbours did not wish to comment.

Andy Dearing, enforcement team manager at the Borough of Poole, said: “The national Town and Country Planning Act allows permitted development of 2.5m up to the eaves as long as the extension is within the boundary lines of your property.

"This Government legislation was introduced to enable homeowners to do more to their property without having to go through the planning process.

“In this case the development falls within householder permitted development guidelines. While we are sympathetic to the householder and the circumstances of her neighbour’s build we can only act within the law. In that regard we are monitoring compliance with the final finish to ensure it is completed properly which includes rendering to ensure it is more sightly for all neighbours in the area.”