For years, her mornings began with the sea. The sound of waves, open skies and an uninterrupted horizon were part of everyday life. Then, almost overnight, a towering concrete wall appeared, cutting off the view and changing everything.
A Seaside Home Suddenly Cut Off
Liz Bates has lived by the beach in Poole for most of her life. At 42, she is raising her family in the same coastal area where generations before her grew up. Her home, set just metres from the shoreline, once looked straight out onto the sea.
That changed when construction work began a few steps from her terrace. A development of luxury flats moved forward, and with it came a solid concrete wall standing 2.4 metres high. From Liz’s terrace, the ocean disappeared behind grey blocks. What was once light and openness became shade and enclosure.
Anyone who has invested in a coastal property knows how much the view shapes daily life. A neighbour of mine once joked that he paid for the horizon, not the house. Liz knows that feeling all too well.
‘Pure Provocation’, Says The Homeowner
Living next to the building site has brought more than just a lost view. Liz describes days spent with doors and windows firmly shut, even in warm weather, because of cigarette smoke drifting in from workers on the site. Piles of concrete blocks have reportedly been left directly outside her home, adding to the sense of intrusion.
Her frustration peaked when she realised where a terrace for the new apartments would be built. While planning permission existed, no detailed plans showed its exact position. Liz assumed it would face the front of the new building. Instead, it was placed above the first floor wall, directly overlooking her property.
She has described the situation as ‘pure provocation’, and it is hard not to sympathise. The sudden loss of privacy, light and air would test anyone’s patience.
A Legal Fight With No Guarantees
Liz has now entered a legal battle with the developer, Eddie Fitzsimmons of Vivir Estates. It is a fight she admits feels deeply uncertain. UK planning law offers little protection when it comes to preserving a view, even one enjoyed for decades.
Property experts regularly point out that, in Britain, there is no automatic right to a view. Organisations such as the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors have long stated that outlook alone is rarely protected unless specific planning conditions apply.
The impact on Liz’s finances has been immediate. Estate agents have told her the value of her home has dropped by around £50,000. For a family property held for nearly a century, that loss cuts deep. Moving is no longer realistic, leaving her feeling trapped in a home that no longer feels the same.
The Developer’s Defence
From the developer’s perspective, the project is entirely lawful. Eddie Fitzsimmons has argued that the land was always designated for development and that no homeowner in the UK is legally entitled to keep a view.
He maintains that while it is unfortunate for neighbours, the new build will ultimately enhance the area and increase local property values. It is a familiar argument in urban development, one often echoed by planning authorities balancing growth with community impact.
When Progress Meets Personal Loss
Liz’s story highlights a tension many communities face. Development brings investment and new housing, but it can also erase something intangible yet deeply personal. A view, a sense of space, a connection to place.
For Liz, this is not about resisting change for the sake of it. It is about losing something that shaped her daily life. As planning debates continue across the UK, her experience serves as a reminder that behind every development plan are people living with its consequences.
