Neighbours at conflict after couple builds 10ft ‘church’ window
- Mark Waddilove and Helen Fitt planned to use extension as a ‘calming room’
- A next door neighbour complained that the giant window blocks his light
- Residents accused the local authority of failing to put up planning notices
Neighbors in a quaint market town are at war after a couple built a 10ft ‘church-style’ window that looks right into the bedroom of the family next door.
Mark Waddilove, 62, and his partner Helen Fitt, 49, received few complaints after they applied for planning permission for the huge widow on the first floor of their home in Wimbourne, Dorset
But once the window was put in for the calming room – where Miss Fitt planned to do her yoga – the complaints from neighbours – who dubbed it a ‘monstrosity’ – soon arrived with many upset the new installation allowed the couple to see into their properties.
Rob Langdown, a church celebrant, and his wife Margaret said the new window looks right into their bedroom – and that they were blindsided by the development, accusing officials of failing to put up planning notices in their road ahead of granting it permission.
The married couple added that they would have objected to the development on the grounds of it breaching their privacy and being out of touch with the area if they were aware of it.
Wimbourne residents Tim and Deborah James, who live next door, complained that as well as overlooking their property, the development has blocked out sunlight into their back garden.
![Mark Waddilove and Helen Fitt (pictured) didn't receive many complaints after they launched planning permission for the window](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/11/08/84689791-13402059-Mark_Waddilove_and_Helen_Fitt_pictured_didn_t_receive_many_compl-a-1_1715412356756.jpg)
Mark Waddilove and Helen Fitt (pictured) didn’t receive many complaints after they launched planning permission for the window
![Rob Langdown, a church celebrant, and his wife Margaret pictured with their cats](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/10/02/84689793-13402059-image-a-11_1715304053350.jpg)
Rob Langdown, a church celebrant, and his wife Margaret pictured with their cats
![Neighbours dubbed the giant window a 'monstrosity'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/11/08/84689797-13402059-Neighbours_dubbed_the_giant_window_a_monstrosity_-a-2_1715412356760.jpg)
Neighbours dubbed the giant window a ‘monstrosity’
The James’ also say Mr Waddilove and Miss Fitt have sent them legal letters about giving access to their property while the work is carried out.
Both sets of homeowners have branded the extension a ‘monstrosity’ and fear it has reduced the value of their properties. They also slammed Dorset Council for allowing it to go ahead.
The local authority said it stands by its decision to grant planning consent for the extension to the back of the semi-detached house in the pretty market town of Wimborne Minster.
It is the second similar case where council planners have faced criticism over a controversial development that overlooks neighbouring homes in recent months.
In nearby Corfe Mullen, Terry Selby has taken his case to the Local Government Ombudsman.
He and wife Margaret were shocked when permission was granted to replace their nextdoor neighbours’ bungalow with a two-storey building that now towers over their home.
Mr Selby believes Dorset Council made a ‘massive mistake’ and partly blames the work from home culture for a lack of cohesion that led to the decision.
In Colehill, Mr Langdown also believes the council has made a mistake. He said: ‘We were not informed of this planning application.
‘A notice went up in our cul-de-sac but not in the private lane where the three bungalows most directly affected by this extension are.
‘They could have posted us a letter, there are only three houses. But we didn’t see the notice and didn’t have the chance to object and the next thing we have this bloody great big window looking straight at us.
‘It looks like a church window that is twice the size of the one that was there and is now much further forward. It looks straight into our property. It is a monstrosity and not in keeping with the area at all.
![Picture shows an aerial view of the window which neighbours said they would have complained about had they known about the planning application](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/10/02/84689799-13402059-image-a-14_1715304155784.jpg)
Picture shows an aerial view of the window which neighbours said they would have complained about had they known about the planning application
![A next door neighbour complained that the extension blocks light from reaching his property](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/10/02/84689805-13402059-image-a-15_1715304201657.jpg)
A next door neighbour complained that the extension blocks light from reaching his property
‘It is quite concerning to think that this has been passed without anybody being approached about it. It is going to devalue our property.’
The Colehill Parish Council did not object to the proposals but did express concern that local residents were not aware of them due to the lack of notices.
Next door neighbour Tim James, 63, said: ‘I’m not happy about it, it blocks our light out and the extension overlooks us, we have no privacy in our garden.
‘It’s been an absolute nightmare from the start. We’ve had six months of continual hammering and drilling from eight in the morning since October and it’s making it a nightmare to live here.
‘They were sending us letters about the agreement which were quite threatening, saying you must sign this within X number of days.
‘They said we had to let a surveyor who worked for them into our property otherwise if there were any cracks in our building we wouldn’t be able to claim anything.
‘I’m not worried by their threats but it doesn’t make it a nice place to live.
‘We have appealed against it the whole way through but nobody has taken a blind but of notice. The council doesn’t care.
‘Living in a semi-detached house with all that going on every day is just ridiculous.’
Mr Waddilove and Ms Fitt declined to comment on the matter.
Mr Waddilove is company director of an IT solutions business and, according to Linkedin, works as a senior programme manager at Solent University in Southampton.
A spokesperson for Dorset Council said: ‘The application was advertised by means of site notices erected by the case officer on September 8, 2022.
‘This included a lamppost notice on Farriers Close, near to the entrance of the road. There was no suitable street furniture on which to erect a site notice closer to the properties in question.
![Picture shows the 'church-style' window is clearly visible from the road](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/10/02/84689819-13402059-image-a-16_1715304213165.jpg)
Picture shows the ‘church-style’ window is clearly visible from the road
![In nearby Corfe Mullen, Terry Selby has taken his case to the Local Government Ombudsman in a similar case](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/10/02/84689809-13402059-image-a-17_1715304215431.jpg)
In nearby Corfe Mullen, Terry Selby has taken his case to the Local Government Ombudsman in a similar case
‘The case officer visited the site, and judged that the proposed new window would not overlook the complainants’ property any more than their previous window.
‘We stand by our decision, but the neighbour is free to make a formal complaint, as we haven’t had any other complaints about this development to date. House values are not a material consideration when assessing planning applications.’
The spokesperson denied that working from home had any impact on the council’s decision making.’
They said: ‘Flexible working from home arrangements in recent years have had no negative impact on our planning processes, including this application.
‘Modern networking technology means officers can access the same information and tools at home as in the office. They work in the same capacity and to the same requirements as before, and still carry out site visits when needed and other due diligence regardless of where their desk-based work takes place.’