A COUPLE’S dream of having back windows on their Feckenham home has been shattered after their neighbours said it would infringe on their privacy.
Mr and Mrs Luget-Owen were refused planning permission to install two windows on the rear of their house after the family next door said they would be able to look into their garden and home.
The couple, who live on The Square, originally applied for windows as part of an extension back in 2006.
But they withdrew it as a gesture of goodwill to their terminally-ill neighbour who said it would have an adverse affect on his privacy.
Another application was then approved by Redditch Borough Council in 2008 with the condition it did not have any windows.
But speaking at a planning meeting on Wednesday (June 10), Mrs Luget-Owen said they had spent thousands restoring the home which was bought in 1974 and there was no fire escape at the back of the property.
She added no natural light could come through the back and if she wanted to look into next door’s garden – who had lived in the house for about two years – she would have to ‘lean way out’.
Officers urged councillors to back the proposals after telling them the neighbour’s garden was already overlooked by several other properties.
But objector Mr Neale said he expected privacy at the back door and living room but not necessarily in the garden.
Coun David Thain said he felt strongly that people’s privacy should be protected and could not support the application – he was backed by a majority the application was thrown out.
