The Sea View That Disappeared
From her first-floor balcony, Liz used to soak in seaside views and morning sunshine. Now, she sits in the literal shadow of progress. Since construction began on high-end residences just metres away, Liz’s world has shrunk. Her once-open home has become a fortress, locked down against prying eyes—and clouds of cigarette smoke drifting in from the building site next door, as reported by The Sun.
“Since the beginning of the works, we feel like we’re living in a fishbowl,” explained the homeowner. “We keep the doors and windows shut, no matter how hot it gets, because the workers smoke on the site and the smoke comes straight into our house.”
When Building Began: From Hope to Disbelief
Trouble started for Liz’s family about two months ago. One day, they saw cinder blocks piled up outside the house. Confused, Liz asked the builders what they were for. As she recalls:
“I asked the workers what the blocks were for, and they told me it was for a terrace wall.”
She never imagined this wall would rise directly in front of her home, stealing her view and light.
The Wall Nobody Saw Coming
Liz explains that while there was planning permission for a terrace, no specific plans had been shared showing where it would sit. She assumed, logically, that any terrace would be at the front of the new apartments—not perched above a wall right outside her own balcony:
“Although there is planning permission for a terrace, the developer never submitted any plans showing where it would be. So we assumed it would be at the front of the apartments—not on a terrace above a first-floor wall. It’s pure provocation on his part, because I think he believes he can win on appeal.”
Feeling Trapped—And Powerless
Now facing the prospect of two luxury apartment buildings towering over her, Liz is torn between resignation and a fierce urge to fight back. Her frustration isn’t just about lost sunlight or ruined breakfasts: it’s about family history and a sense of being wronged.
“My family has lived here for 100 years. I grew up here. I’m extremely angry,” she explained. This home, now “disfigured” by a 2.4-metre concrete wall, is almost unrecognisable to her. She even considered leaving but learned “we’d like to move, but estate agents told us the house has lost so much value due to the building works that we wouldn’t be able to. So we’re stuck here. We can’t enjoy our outdoor space anymore, and we’ve lost so much natural light.”
The Developer’s Response: Law, Not Love
The property developer acknowledges the inconvenience but maintains he’s well within his legal rights. Eddie Fitzsimmons of Vivir Estates puts it bluntly:
“No property owner in the UK has a right to a view—it’s the law. This is land opposite existing properties and, yes, it’s a shame people lose their views. But I think this project will improve the neighbourhood, and property prices will go up as a result.”
As the luxury flats take shape and Liz’s home remains in the shadow, the question lingers: how much should progress cost the people who call this place home?
