Woman horrified after returning home to find 20ft wall over garden

The 'eyesore' structure towers over Sharon Everill's property in Staffordshire. (Reach)
The 'eyesore' structure towers over Sharon Everill's property in Staffordshire. (Reach) (Stoke Sentinel / BPM Media)

A homeowner was shocked when she returned to her property and found builders had put a 20-foot-high concrete wall on the edge of her garden.

Sharon Everill said it was a "complete surprise" when she saw the “eyesore” structure at her house in Weston Close, Knutton, Staffordshire.

She said she knew the Wilmot Drive development in Lower Milehouse would come up to the northern edge but had no idea the wall would be built.

Everill is now worried the wall she describes as a “monstrosity” could drive down the value of her home of more than 30 years.

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The developer has offered to pay for trees to cover the wall. (Reach)
The developer has offered to pay for trees to cover the wall. (Reach) (Stoke Sentinel / BPM Media)

Everill said: "We knew there was going to be a house 30 feet back from the edge of our property, but it was never mentioned that there would be a 20-foot-high concrete retaining wall.

“We just came back home one day and there it was.

"They need the retaining wall because they're going to backfill on the land behind it, so it won't appear that high from the other side. That means that monstrosity is going to be there forever now.

"We've spoken to the builders about the fact that we were never notified about this, and they insist that there were notices put up. But they say that they understand why we're so upset about this.”

The developer Tilia Homes, formerly known as Kier Living, has offered a "contribution" toward the cost of trees to hide the wall, but Everill said that wasn't good enough.

She added: "They suggest that we plant conifers in front of the retaining wall to mask it.

“They even said they'd give us £200 to pay for the trees. But we don't want £200. We don't want £2,000. We just don't want this eyesore here."

The land off Wilmot Drive has been earmarked for new homes since 188 properties were demolished under the Renew North Staffordshire housing market renewal pathfinder more than a decade ago.

Tilia Homes secured planning permission for the housing development in 2018.

But Everill says the land behind her home has always been green space and was not part of the previous Wilmot Drive estate.

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The developer secured planning permission for the housing development in 2018. (Reach)
The developer secured planning permission for the housing development in 2018. (Reach) (Stoke Sentinel / BPM Media)

A spokesperson for Tilia Homes said: “The retaining wall along the rear of Weston Close has been built in accordance with the planning permission granted by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council in 2018, and to an approved design. The details of this were publicly available at the time.

"We have been in contact with the resident in recent weeks and have offered a contribution towards tree planting to help conceal the wall from her garden. We are more than happy to discuss this further and reach a solution that is suitable for both parties.”

More than 270 homes will be built on the Paddocks estate.

It will consist of 75 two-bedroom, 136 three-bedroom, and 65 four-bedroom houses, all for sale on the open market.

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