Residents in Staffordshire have claimed that a housing development was built 2.4 metres too high, leaving neighbouring properties overshadowed by towering newbuilds.
The dispute centres on the Pottery Gardens development of 125 homes, which was approved in 2020 and has dramatically altered what was once an area with unspoilt countryside views.
Local homeowners say the development has left them “penned in” by houses just yards from their boundaries.
The controversy has sparked ongoing tensions between existing residents, the developer Persimmon, and Staffordshire Moorlands district council, with locals claiming their early objections were dismissed before construction began.
Residents in Staffordshire have claimed that a housing development was built 2.4 metres too high, leaving neighbouring properties overshadowed by towering newbuilds
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Tracy and Adrian Milward, who built their property on Froghall Road in 1993, are among the most affected residents.
“At the time the planning authority told us we could only have a dormer bungalow because of the undulating land,” Tracy, a 55-year-old nurse, told the Daily Mail.
“Now we have the equivalent of a three-storey house towering just 10 yards from our boundary,” she added.
The Milwards claim the original plans lacked elevation drawings, and when construction began, they watched developers build up the land by four feet.
“We objected straight away – before a brick was built in any of the homes, but we were just dismissed,” Tracy explained.
Adrian Milward challenged the planning committee, asking: “How can you build a storey higher on someone else’s level boundary and that be acceptable?”
The impact extends beyond the Milwards, with residents on Ness Grove facing additional problems from the development.
Homeowners there are confronted with double fencing and unsightly concrete spillage into their gardens, along with large gravel-boards struggling to hold back earth.
Valerie Betteley, 74, explained: “The original plan was for the new houses to have tiered gardens but the new residents wanted them flat so they added hundreds of tonnes of soil to make them level.”
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Her husband Derick, 76, described the situation as “very, very stressful,” noting how their previous view of miles of fields has been replaced by being “hemmed in.”
Craig and Janet Shepherd, both 72, face similar issues after 40 years in their home, with Janet lamenting: “We knew there’d be homes but not this close and not this high.”
Both Persimmon and Staffordshire Moorlands district council acknowledge the need to clear concrete and install new fencing to address the problems.
However, progress has stalled as the council requires agreement from all affected houses before proceeding with improvements.
“It has been going on for three years now and still there is no end in sight,” said Derick.
Craig Shepherd, a retired customer service manager, explained the complexity of the situation: “They want the agreement of all the properties but some are rented and it is taking a long time.”
“Persimmon have agreed to correct it but the Council need to approve it. It’s a farce,” he added.
Local homeowners say the development has left them “penned in” by houses just yards from their boundaries
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The delays have left residents in limbo, with no clear timeline for when the issues might be resolved.
A spokesperson for Staffordshire Moorlands district council defended the development, stating: “The houses themselves have been built in accordance with the approved plans which were subject to a planning application and full public consultation in 2018.”
The council acknowledged ongoing issues with “retaining structures and boundary treatments” and committed to working with Persimmon Homes to address these concerns.
Persimmon North West responded saying they “welcome that the application was recommended for approval by the local authority.”
The developer added: “Although the improvements have been agreed to by some residents, we will continue to work to find solutions that satisfy remaining parties as per the request of the committee.”
They emphasised that “the new homes have been built at the approved floor levels and in the correct location” as specified in the original 2020 planning application.