Neighbour row erupts as locals fume over new homes with ‘direct views into their windows’ – ‘It’s been really frustrating and really stressful!’

Residents in Southminster, Essex, have expressed anger after discovering a new housing development overlooking their properties, with many claiming they were unaware of the approved plans.

The development, which received approval from Maldon District Council in March, consists of eight homes that have sparked concerns due to their direct views into existing properties.

Local homeowners are particularly distressed about the impact on their privacy, with several houses now facing dormers and windows that look directly into their homes and gardens.

The construction has left residents grappling with both privacy concerns and fears about potential property devaluation.

Mark Heisser, a Kings Road resident, reported that seven dormers are now “looking into the back of my house and garden,” causing a “profound effect on the mental and physical health” of neighbours.

“A local and respected estate agent of 36 years advised us that he had never seen anything like this,” Heisser told the Express.

According to the estate agent’s assessment, the properties could become “unsellable” or face value reductions of “£100k or more.”

The development’s proximity and positioning have left Heisser and his neighbours deeply concerned about their property’s future marketability.

Sarah Martin, 38, faces similar privacy challenges, with the new builds having direct views into both her kitchen and her six-year-old daughter’s bedroom.

“The properties in place now are practically three storeys with two floors and windows in the roof,” she told the Maldon and Burnham Standard.

The situation has been “really frustrating and really stressful” for Martin and her family.

“I’m thinking of having some privacy film installed on the back of my house and for my little girl so she can have some privacy in her room,” she explained.

Responding to residents’ concerns, a Maldon District Council spokesperson explained that proper procedures were followed for the development’s approval.

The council granted planning permission for the eight dwellings on March 27, 2024, in accordance with the Maldon District Local Development Plan.

The spokesperson emphasised that statutory notification requirements were met.

“Maldon District Council is guided by planning law in terms of how it promotes planning applications and in compliance with that, the council published the application in the Planning Weekly List,” they stated.

A site notice was placed on a Kings Road lamppost for a 21-day comment period, during which only one response was received.

However, Heisser contends the notice was “inconspicuously” placed on a “narrow pathway” and was largely “obscured by tree foliage.”