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A dispute among neighbors has arisen following proposals for an ‘extremely large’ addition to a standalone home.

A proposal has been submitted to construct a two-story addition to the standalone home; however, locals have labeled it as an eyesore that would result in them having zero privacy.

The plans for the home located in the Bitterne Park suburb of Southampton propose adding a two-story extension. This addition aims to accommodate two new apartments and will involve tearing down the current garage.

It is the second time the owner has applied for planning permission, but after being rejected, he has once again tried his luck with the city council.

However, Catherine Wheeler, aged 40, who resides directly behind the property, stated that the proposals would encroach upon her privacy.

In an interview with MailOnline, the nurse from the nearby hospital stated: “I wouldnโ€™t want that to proceed under any circumstances. It lacks privacy since itโ€™s located just steps away from my home.”

‘The intrusion that it is of being in your own garden and having people from across the street looking at what you’re doing is just not acceptable.

I occasionally enjoy lying out in the sun in my garden during summertime, and I’ve renovated my backyard to fully appreciate it.


I’m worried that if these plans move forward, they might prevent me from doing that because we canโ€™t predict who could end up residing there. If someone else lives there, theyโ€™d only see me wearing a bikini, which wouldnโ€™t make me feel secure.

‘Even more problematic, I didnโ€™t receive any prior notice of this. Itโ€™s only today that Iโ€™m becoming aware of it.’

I’m irritated simply because I wasnโ€™t informed about it. What if they had begun construction without ever notifying me?

A parent with one child is equally worried about construction activities near an oak tree that has been protected under a preservation order, standing between the two houses for many years.

Mrs. Wheeler, who has resided in her half-timbered home for twelve years, stated: “The tree is enormous, and if they were excavating near it to construct an addition, I wonder how its roots would be affected.”

It has been standing there for decades, so the roots must be extensive. Digging around it might cause instability.

We’ve experienced numerous severe storms over the past several years, and during strong winds, these storms might lead to a collapse. Then what occurs? What if it falls onto my home?

In the meantime, former IT program manager Carmel Allen stated: “When they install the sewer pipes and excavation takes place, it might disturb the tree roots, leading to potential harm for the tree. This situation poses significant risks.”




We would also be at the same eye level as everyone residing there.

They can already peek into our garden, but things will only get more noticeable. We might be outside soaking up the sunlight, and people would end up gawking at us.

Furthermore, this neighborhood is home to many resident families. Approving these multi-occupancy apartments could establish a precedent for further approvals, which would likely attract individuals rather than families, unlike those currently living here.

Parking is already problematic in this area; finding spaces for additional vehicles would be challenging. If more people were to stay home but still frequent nearby stores, they might end up parking along the streets. This could lead to a situation where locals trying to visit neighborhood shops may find it difficult to secure parking spots.

‘Thus, by endorsing these proposals and permitting these individuals to reside here and park their vehicles here, you would prevent numerous people who typically park here and frequent the nearby stores from doing so.’

A man, who chose to remain anonymous, stated: “This is the second occasion they have submitted an application for planning permission regarding these apartments.”

It has been turned down before, so what makes you think asking again will change anything? Those designs would be an eyesore both for the house and the neighborhood.

A nearby resident who has two children mentioned, “Parking here is already rather challenging. Fortunately, I have a driveway where I can park my vehicle. However, when we have visitors, they often find it hard to locate parking spots close to my home, so they usually end up parking somewhere else and walking from there.”

We have two children, and most of our acquaintances also have kids, which means we park with them separately from where cars are parked and walk the remaining distance. My primary worry is how this might affect available parking.

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