Woman 'fuming' after towering new flats surround her home

A woman has been left fuming after her home is now "surrounded" by three-storey flats built just one metre from her property in some parts. Nila Patel, 46, has loved living in her three-bedroom home in Ilford, Essex, for the past 25 years thanks to its views of green spaces.

However, following three years of construction, she now finds towering three-storey flats at the mere distance of one metre from the end of her garden, with windows peering straight in. Communal spaces to the left have also been replaced by two and three-storey homes, standing three metres from her boundary, with their windows looking "directly" into her private space.

Redbridge Council has defended the decision to approve these homes, citing the pressing need to provide housing for "families who desperately need a roof over their heads". But Nila, an admin worker, argues that the 33 new flats have left her feeling "constantly surrounded", with strangers able to glimpse into her bedroom when the curtains are not drawn.

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While there were always flats adjacent to her home, her garden once had open, green space all around. She estimates that the gap between her garden and the newly erected flats at the back is now reduced to a metre, and no more than three metres on the side.

Additionally, a car park is set to replace the green space on the right side of her garden to accommodate the vehicles of residents in the neighbouring flats.

Nila expressed her frustration, saying: "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. Nila works from home and said during the building work, which was completed in August, it was noisy and hard to focus and have meetings.

She's also worried her home has now gone down in value. "Every gap in the area is being filled with flats - it's ridiculous," said Nila, 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."

Nila first contacted Redbridge Council with a noise complaint a month after the work began, but said they concluded it wasn't too loud. She says she has 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."

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

The spokesperson also mentioned: "If anyone has concerns about constructing these much-needed homes, we would be pleased to meet them." They concluded by saying: "We are committed to working with our neighbours to resolve any issues."