This photograph was taken from our garden. Before anyone asks - our house was pink when we moved in and...ermmm...we haven't got round to repainting it yet! To give some idea of scale, notice the fence you can see underneath the nice white uPVC door - it is six feet high! It's important to remember that the house is built at least 2.13 metres higher than its original permission allowed - i.e. the one he was in breach of. In actual fact, the blurb with that application specifically said that ALL the windows you see there would be BELOW the level of our house! One of the justifications given by the planning officer who approved it was that it would be built "at a much lower level than the adjoining property"....
This shot was taken from the woods above our house (where you saw Kevin walking at the beginning of the programme). Kind of speaks for itself really. Remember that blurb with the planning application I mentioned above?
The Bridge. He can see right into our house from it. Strange how the council seem to now think that is entirely OK.
This photograph was taken from our garden. Before anyone asks - our house was pink when we moved in and...ermmm...we haven't got round to repainting it yet! To give some idea of scale, notice the fence you can see underneath the nice white uPVC door - it is six feet high! It's important to remember that the house is built at least 2.13 metres higher than its original permission allowed - i.e. the one he was in breach of. In actual fact, the blurb with that application specifically said that ALL the windows you see there would be BELOW the level of our house! One of the justifications given by the planning officer who approved it was that it would be built "at a much lower level than the adjoining property"....
This shot was taken from the woods above our house (where you saw Kevin walking at the beginning of the programme). Kind of speaks for itself really. Remember that blurb with the planning application I mentioned above?
The Bridge. He can see right into our house from it. Strange how the council seem to now think that is entirely OK.
i'd need to watch the program again to be sure but i dont think there was any indication whatsoever of how close the grand designs build was compared with the neighbouring property.
ReplyDeletei thought the objection must have been unreasonable because the next door house was so far away. turns out its breathing right over you.
Looks a lot more in keeping with the woodland setting than your shocking pink brick bungalow!
ReplyDeleteI would be VERY interested in buying your bungalow, so we could build another property like the one next door, are you interested at all?
ReplyDeleteBarratt: well - I would be able to supply you with all the details of exactly how to go about getting planning permission...
ReplyDeletetreelover: I know the original builder of our house - he wanted to do something much more in keeping with the setting - the council wouldn't let him. Unfortunately I can't lay the blame for the colour at the council's door though ;)
ReplyDeletepresumably there would be no problem getting permission to go as high as next door, he's done you a favour really, would you want to sell?
ReplyDeletebarratt - you can email if you wish
ReplyDeleteA few years ago a small but select band of C4 forum posters left the forum to a new place where they could say what they really thought about programmes without having their views trampled over by heavy handed moderators. We are a friendly bunch of people (with the possible exception of Ms Whypee who eats humble pie) who would love to hear your side of the story. From the photos on your blog its fairly obvious Grand Designs chose not give a fair account of what really went on, so please come over to us and have a look around and if you feel so inclined tell us what really happened.
ReplyDeleteThis is the link to the discussion:-
http://www.forumtowers.com/forum/index.php?topic=546.750
Kind Regards
Mr S Cheesewright
The pictures you took make the mill look extremely close to the fence, how far away is it actually?
ReplyDeleteit is at a slight angle relative to the line of the fence - at its closest point - the wall of the house is around 13 feet away. see the photo taken from the woods above our house. There is to be a raised walkway (in the same manner as the bridge) giving access from the rear to the white side door - so that figure will then reduce when it is completed. Bear in mind the plot is about 160ft wide - so it is something of a mystery why he chose to build so close to us in the first place - could have avoided a lot of grief both to us and himself.
ReplyDeleteOn the subject of walkways/balconies - The programme gave the false impression that all the balconies were being removed from the scheme - this is untrue - only the front bedroom balcony on the top floor has been removed - and it remains to be seen whether Chris Ostwald will attempt to built it anyway, and what action the council would take should he do so.
Thanks for your interest.
I must apologise to you NITW as while watching the Grand Designs episode I was on the side of the guy building the water mill. Having seen your photographs and some of the stuff on other blogs about the builder however I am firmly on your side.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe he has been allowed to build that monstrosity so close to your house. I also can't believe the one sided programme that Grand Designs put out.
I really hope you get some justice. It all must be horrendously stressful for you.
Thank you for your kind words trixy. The stress and expense we have had over the last three years has been unbelievable. GD have screwed up big time with this and I think they know it - we are waiting for their full response to our complaint. If it isn't satisfactory we will be taking the matter up at the very least with ofcom. The council are as I say at the top under current investigation so it may take a while but I will not rest until we do get justice. If you feel strongly enough that you were deceived by the programme perhaps you might like to consider making a complaint to channel 4...
ReplyDeleteThanks again
NITW
Just watched this GD and although not entirely impressed with the property itself it goes to show how the planning system can throw up a few random results now and again. Looks like your plot has increased in value now that has been allowed, you will have no problem selling it on. Think yourself lucky because if you did annoy him enough he could have sold the plot for a caravan site. You tried your hardest to throw him a spanner and now have to live your whole life without smiling at your neighbours. They can smile at you though, off the footbridge whilst you eat your cornflakes. My advice, build a better one or sell up and keep your new neighbours happy by not blarting to the council every five minutes. They arent there just for you.....
ReplyDeleteIf you didnt want a house built beside you, then you should of never bought your house in the first place. Research would have told you that the land beside you was owned privately and the chances of a house being built on that land eventually were very likely. The Water Mill is an ugly building, but this is yet another example of a bunch of recluses living in the woods you would of kicked up a fuss no matter what was built beside them. I suggest you up sticks and move on, because you caused nothing but trouble for this poor man and his family and you are lucky you didnt tear them apart.
ReplyDeleteWell I have just seen the episode on C4, and I too thought you guys were the 'baddies' in this tale.
ReplyDeleteSounds like Oxf planning dept are actually to blame here. What a debacle!
This guy has owned the land for 20 years, so to be honest, in response to Grooviet Eyewear's comment above, I appreciate you may have been lulled into a false sense of security.
I don't think you would have complained whatever, I do think the size and proximity and fact that this so overlooks you is a problem.
I like the design, but gosh did it have to be quite so close to you?
How are things now? Have the family moved in or sold it? (I was not sure the wife would ever want to be there after the stress... which I do think was greater for them than you as all their money was tied up in this project.
I think Chris was foolhardy not to get permission in writing, then to continue building for 18 months whilst it was uncertain what the judgement would be was a crazy irresponsible gamble (bar getting it watertight)
So sad when things like this happen. It will be impossible for you to become friends, and the only solution is one of you selling up and brushing this off... can poison your life otherwise.
Is moving an option for you? I would not see it as defeat, I'd see it as a necessary action for your health.
Hey, how about you sell your land to developers? ;)
Sad story, and I do not feel that you were fairly represented by the programme... shame you were advised against appearing, at least to make a prepared statement, in calm rational manner. You are not the bad guys.
I would move on though.
Best of luck.
Just watched the GD episode here in Australia.
ReplyDeleteI spent most of the show trying to get a view of the overlooked neighbour.
Thought it was suspicious that of many, many views of the house, none showed the neighbour.
I really don't think we were given both sides of the story.
And I think the council would have felt highly pressured to give consent because it was the subject of a Kevin McCloud GD episode.
I am sympathetic with you, as I have had a neighbour get approval for a 3rd story with overlooking balcony, which broke all the council design guidelines.
It's May 4th 2017 and I've just watched the watermill episode of Grand Designs.As a retired film editor I have to say that it's a masterpiece of editing, because I had no idea how close to your building the mill is.You have my sympathy.
ReplyDeleteI think the producers of GD chose not to include pictures of your property not as a way of avoiding the issue of proximity but because you seem like litigeous little englanders who just might get a solicitor involved...
ReplyDeleteNo update since 2010. What was outcome of you complaint against the council?
ReplyDeleteWatched a repeat. You guys mental.
ReplyDeleteIt’s an expense but can’t tall trees be planted between the two houses? We did that and can no longer see an ugly unfinished house next door to us. It would also add value to the properties and make them more appealing.
ReplyDeleteYou were apparently invited to contribute to the programme and chose not to Hope they managed to have settled life with or without kindly neighbours
ReplyDeleteHe has all that land , why of why build so close to your neighbours.not very friendly thing to do.. he pushed the limits of the plans and got caught out.. should have been made to year the hideous thing down and move...
ReplyDeleteLove the comment to plant trees. That seems like the easiest fix without living next to your mortal enemy the rest of your life
ReplyDelete