3.2 meter shed.

[Coopertwo]

5 years ago my neighbour erected a garden shed which stands within 1 meter of my boundary wall and also within 1 meter of my stone built outhouse/small barn. The shed is 3.2 meters high and blocks light from the windows in the outhouse.

I was never very happy about it but lived with it as I was friendly with the neighbour. Time passes, that neighbour moves on, a new neighbour moves in, we start thinking about making the outhouse into a studio. To get some light in the place we ask the neighbour to move the shed but he refuses. I check planning and see that 3.2 meters is too high for a shed that is so close to my property and approach our local planning office.

My local planning office informs me that because the shed was erected more than 4 years ago it is immune from enforcement by virtue of the passage of time. As a matter of planning law when development occurs 4 years ago then it becomes immune from action.

I'm surprised by this, does it mean you can build anything you like and as long as nobody complains about it for 4 years you're home and dry ?

[Coopertwo]

Thanks very much.

[Coopertwo]

The Fidler Clause.

That was the limit of my planning education.