Victory for mum as illegal 6ft concrete wall built right outside her window blocking the sea view to be demolished

MoneyNews Money AN ILLEGAL 6ft concrete wall built right outside a mum’s window is set to be demolished after the developer lost an appeal. Liz Bates was left fuming after the towering brick wall was slapped in front of her family’s first-floor apartment in the swanky Southbourne area of Bournemouth, Dorset. Liz Bates, 42, had £50,000 knocked off her flat’s value and her sea view ruined by a huge concrete wall Credit: BNPS She previously enjoyed an idyllic vista of Poole Bay from the balcony of her first floor apartment Credit: BNPS The 16ft long, 6ft high brick wall, which was added to an apartment block of a luxury 27 flats development without permission, has knocked an estimated £50,000 off the value of Liz Bates’ home. At the same time, it opened up the prospect of adding a roof terrace to the flat in front of the wall, conveniently raising the value of the apartment. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! The developers claimed the wall was necessary to prevent “mutual overlooking” between the new apartment and Mrs Bates’ balcony. But their last gasp bid to save the wall has now failed after the Planning Inspectorate delivered a damning verdict on it. The wall left her contemplating selling her home Credit: BNPS Mrs Bates has now won the appeal to have the wall taken down Credit: BNPS Inspector David Kay said that the wall had a “harmful overbearing impact” on Mrs Bates’ home and the size of the roof terrace “far exceeded what could be reasonably described as modest”. He added that the terrace could be used for large parties which would cause “significant levels of noise and disturbance” to Mrs Bates. Mrs Bates said: “Winning the appeal has given us a huge sense of relief, but it is difficult to feel that the nightmare is over while building work continues. “We have spent a long time feeling that we have had to fight simply to ensure that the planning system is respected.” Most read in Money She called on the council to “take a firm approach and use its enforcement powers”, adding residents should not be forced to “become de facto planning enforcement officers”. Mrs Bates said: “What started as a planning issue has become something that has affected our home life, our sense of privacy and security in our own home, and our overall wellbeing. “Home is supposed to be the place where you can switch off, but for a long time this situation has made it very difficult to do that.” Cllr Michael Tarling said in response to the application at a council planning meeting: “It is absolutely obvious to everyone what the developer is doing which is to try and maximise sales revenue – you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to see that. “They thought they could try and sneak a wall in later and that is incredibly disingenuous.” Vivir Estates have been approached for comment over the unsuccessful appeal. A BCP Council spokesperson said: “As this is a live investigation, it would not be appropriate to comment on any potential enforcement action or timescales at this stage. “Any further action will be considered in accordance with national planning policy and guidance, the relevant statutory framework and the Council’s adopted Planning Enforcement Plan.” Comment now