I moved into my new home 25 years ago... now I'm surrounded by flats

An administration worker is fuming after her home was 'surrounded' by three-storey flats which have been built just one yard from her property in places.

Nila Patel, 46, bought her three-bed home, in Ilford, Essex, 25 years ago and loved looking out on green space. But after three years of building, three-storey flats now sit just one yard from the end of her garden, with windows which look directly in.

To the left, communal space has been replaced with two and three storey homes, three yards from her boundary, with windows which look 'directly' into her space.

Redbridge Council defended approving the homes for 'families who desperately need a roof over their heads'. 

But Ms Patel said the 33 flats mean she 'feels constantly surrounded' and strangers 'can see into my bedroom if the curtains are open'.

Although there were always flats either side of her home, her garden had open, green, space all around.

She estimates there is now only a yard between her garden and the flats at the back, and no more than three yards at the side of her garden.

Green space on the right of her garden is being replaced by a carpark to serve flats on that side of her house, she said.

She said: 'This has caused nothing but headache. It's absolutely disgusting to take away someone's privacy. My home and garden used to feel like my quiet safe place but that has been ruined now. I don't feel comfortable any more.

'It's so sad to have my home ruined like this. I feel constantly surrounded. It just doesn't feel fair. There isn't enough distance between the flats and my garden.

'I can be seen in every part of my garden so I don't want to go out there anymore. I don't even want to hang my washing out there now. They can see into my bedroom if the curtains are open. 

'We had flats on either side before but they didn't overlook our garden and there was a lot more space. The new flats are right in your face. I can even see right into them from my bedroom window.'

The building work began in summer 2021, she said.

She works from home and said during the building work, which was completed in August, it was noisy and hard to focus and have meetings.

Ms Patel is worried her home has gone down in value.

'Every gap in the area is being filled with flats - it's ridiculous,' said Ms Patel, who has asthma and diabetes. 'This has been awful and extremely draining. The constant noise and dust has caused me years of anxiety and stress. 

'I've lost all my privacy and feel bombarded. Our view now is just flats, and on the right there'll be a car park.'

Ms Patel first contacted Redbridge Council with a noise complaint a month after the work began, but said they concluded it wasn't too loud. She kept emailing them and also her MP.

A Redbridge Council spokesperson said: ' We're providing these homes to local families who desperately need a roof over their heads.

'The housing crisis in Redbridge is reaching a critical point, with over 8,000 people on our council house waiting list.

'That's why we're building 600 new council houses for local families and people in most need.

'Planning permission was granted in February 2021 for this housing development, and all aspects and objections would have been thoroughly considered.

'If anyone has concerns about constructing these much-needed homes, we would be pleased to meet them.

'We are committed to working with our neighbours to resolve any issues.'