A homeowner in Brighton has expressed her anger over a neighbor's elevated platform, which she likens to an "East German lookout tower." The structure, built in 2024, has reportedly cast her garden into shadow, leading to the demise of her plants and a diminished sense of privacy.
Initially, the neighbors had a staircase, which was later replaced with new steps, an enlarged platform, and a 1.8-meter-high screen. The homeowner, who wishes to remain anonymous due to ongoing tensions, stated that the structure has "changed the whole way I look at my garden" and her feeling of living there.
She described a palm tree in her garden that had thrived until the structure was erected, after which it died due to a lack of sunlight. Previously, she could see the sun on her kitchen wall, a view now obstructed. The homeowner also believes the development has negatively impacted her property's value.
She characterized the structure as "ridiculously out of proportion" for the space and noted the absence of room for a washing line, adding that it appears "hastily constructed."
Brighton & Hove City Council granted retrospective planning permission for the platform in November 2025. The council's report acknowledged that the enlarged terrace would result in a "slightly greater degree of loss of light and outlook" but concluded it would "not be to an unacceptable extent" given the "relatively modest scale overall and the distances to neighbouring properties."
Despite no officer site visit being conducted, the council determined that refusal of permission for the previously "unsafe" staircase could not be justified. The central issue of the higher platform was noted, with mitigation suggested through privacy screens.
Objections from other neighbors cited concerns about noise disturbance from frequent use of the stairs, potential negative impacts on the "right to enjoy the home," and the structure's "poor design" being out of character with the existing building. One objection noted that the raised platform had transformed into an outdoor entertainment space, offering invasive views into neighboring gardens and windows and compromising privacy.
Concerns were also raised about the privacy screens, with allegations that they were not 1.8 meters high on one side and were constructed from "flimsy split bamboo canes" unsuitable for long-term durability.
A spokesperson for Brighton & Hove City Council stated that all objections were considered. "This application was a modest proposal for a staircase replacing a previous staircase of the same scale and size and to enlarge the accompanying platform," the spokesperson said. "It fell within planning guidelines and was not something which warranted refusal."
