The grandparents say that when they first bought the bungalow they thought they would never leave it. (Image: SWNS)
A retired couple say their dream home has been “ruined” by the construction of new-build homes towering over their back garden. The grandparents say that when they first bought the bungalow they thought they would never leave it.
But now – after the new properties were built ruining their woodland views – the couple are desperate to move out.
Maureen and Dave King bought the bungalow in the quiet village of Broad Oak, near Canterbury in Kent, nine years ago.
Back then, the pensioners enjoyed views of rolling fields, orchards and woodland.
But now the trees have been flattened and their peace has been shattered by the building of the “eyesore” two-and-a-half storey homes overlooking their garden.
Former nurse Mrs King, 71, said: “When we bought this place, we thought when we left it would be in a box. It was our dream home – but that dream has been taken away from us.”
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SWNS_NEW_BUILDThe grandparents-of-nine also worry about their young family members playing in the back garden in the summerS_006.jpg (Image: SWNS)
Her 72-year-old husband, a former builder, says he is losing sleep due to the stress.
He said: “Now we just want to get out. It’s ruined our garden – it’s ruined everything.”
“I was given a hot tub as a gift, but I won’t use it now if people are looking into my garden.
The grandparents-of-nine also worry about their young family members playing in the back garden in the summer.
Mrs King said: “You don’t know who’s going to move in, and you can see the whole thing.”
The new-builds behind their refurbished bungalow look straight into their kitchen and bedroom too.
The couple say they fought ‘tooth and nail’ to stop Barratt David Wilson Homes’ plans (Image: SWNS)
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Mrs King continued: “The main issue is the height. We’re in a bungalow – built pre-70s – and these buildings are so high and they have windows in the roof. We’ve got 16-plus windows overlooking us. They can look into our garden and our home. They are an eyesore too.”
The couple say they fought “tooth and nail” to stop Barratt David Wilson Homes’ plans for the new estate from coming to fruition, but were unsuccessful.
Mr and Mrs King claim that at consultations, the plan for two-storey houses, with a further loft floor, was described as potential and not set in stone.
It was not until the diggers rolled in that the couple realised just how tall the new-builds would be.
Their bungalow was intended to be their forever home, where they could enjoy their retirement. (Image: SWNS)
Their bungalow was intended to be their forever home, where they could enjoy their retirement.
They spent thousands of pounds gutting the property and refurbishing it – but now they are desperate to leave.
However, they claim getting out will not be easy, as the value of their property will have plummeted due to the new development.
Mrs King said: “The bungalow next door to ours has been up for sale for at least six months and they can’t sell it. The price of ours must have plummeted. Who would want to be overlooked by all these tall buildings?”
Mr King says he would even let Barratt buy his bungalow and build flats on the plot.
The 456-home development, named The Woodlands, was narrowly approved by Canterbury City Council (Image: SWNS)
He added: “I already suffer from depression and am losing sleep over the stress of it all.”
The 456-home development, named The Woodlands, was narrowly approved by Canterbury City Council’s planning committee in 2021.
It was submitted along with a 630-home proposal on neighbouring land, stretching into Sturry.
Councillors gave both the green light by seven votes to five, despite fierce opposition and an almost identical proposal being rejected three months earlier.
To add to their misery, the couple say the construction process has been a “catalogue of disasters”.
Last summer, a huge pile of dirt blew a thick layer of grime onto their home and Mr King’s classic car collection.
Just last week, work on pipes at the neighbouring construction site led to sewage backing up and overflowing into their garden.
A spokesman for Barratt David Wilson Homes said: “All of the designs for homes at our The Woodlands development were approved by Canterbury City Council following an extensive consultation process.”
“The new homes that are being built adjacent to existing properties are offset by more than 28 metres and were assessed in the planning process to have no adverse impact on existing residents.”
“We work really hard to minimise the impact from construction with daily road sweepings to clean mud and in the summer months spray water to limit dust.”
“If any resident has any concerns, please get in touch with us and we will do whatever we can to help.”
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