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A couple have been told they must erect a fence to shield their neighbours' view after constructing a luxury shed in their garden without the necessary planning permission which has received a backlash from neighbours. The shed, featuring a wall-to-ceiling glass door with a timber pergola covering a large decking area that spans seven metres, was built on top of the remnants of an old greenhouse in the couple's back garden in Monmouth in September 2023, but neighbours have since complained meaning the council had to take action. Following a planning meeting it has been decided the couple must now take action after neighbours raised concerns over the height of the development. For the biggest stories in Wales first, sign up to our daily newsletter Inside the shed is furnished with a sofa and workstations and applicant Llinos Ndlovu said in her application that the narrow room, measuring just 2.74 metres from front to back, was constructed for her and her husband's homeworking needs. She assured it "will never be used for housing or residential purposes and is for the sole purpose of office space for myself and my husband". She further clarified that the building, situated about 30 metres from their house at the elevated end of their sloping garden on Beech Road in Monmouth , has no facilities other than electricity and internet access. Ms Ndlovu told how they only realised planning permission was required when they were contacted by Monmouthshire County Council's planning department earlier this summer, which had launched an investigation following a tip-off from a local. In response the couple submitted a retrospective planning application for the outbuilding and decking which drew six objections from two properties while two neighbours from one household supported the application. Local councillor Steve Garratt requested the application be brought before the council's delegated panel to examine the "amenity impact". Objecting neighbours branded the shed as "too high and overbearing". The also argued its height enables overlooking into their garden, whilst also suggesting it could potentially be used for business purposes in future. In her report recommending approval with conditions, Monmouthshire council planning officer Helen Etherington noted that the sloping garden causes the shed to "appear taller" when viewed from the house and creates visual prominence when seen from the neighbour's garden due to the low boundary wall. She said a two-metre high willow "privacy screen" must be erected along the boundary with the neighbouring property and maintained as a planning condition. The report also highlighted that since the structure was built over the greenhouse remains no existing building required removal that might have disturbed wildlife and the lawn beneath the decking stays accessible to wildlife. Regarding concerns about potential business use, Ms Etherington's report clarified that the permission solely permits "uses ancillary to the residential dwelling".
