A group of neighbours have become angry after a developer has cut down trees exposing their homes to 70 flats.

Developers Taylor Wimpey was given planning permission to build a block of flats in Elstree Way, opposite Bullhead Road, in Borehamwood.

However, as the development has been built neighbours in Bullhead Road have become increasingly concerned the developers have breached their planning permission.

Caroline Dulin, 41, of Bullhead Road, said: “There used to be a couple of nine metre high trees at the back of my garden but they have been removed because of the development.

“I no longer have any privacy despite it being agreed the trees will not be removed. I have spoken to Hertsmere Borough Council who agreed the application but they said there is nothing they can do about it.

“The trees would have protected my privacy but now when the building is completed I will have around 70 flats looking straight into my home. My house is not the worse though.”

Borehamwood Times:

This is the image from Miss Dulin's home

Miss Dulin also said Taylor Wimpey already started building despite planning permission stating that they should not build until land consideration was given.

She said: “The council is refusing to do anything about it. I have asked them to put a stop notice on the site but they are letting it go through.

“I am not against the development as I believe it will be good for the area but now I have no privacy.

“To get the trees to cover my property would have to come from my own money because now the only space to plant mature trees is in my own garden.

“This would mean I would have to pay for it myself. To plant enough trees would be around £3,000.”

Karen Hart, 54, also of Bullhead Road, said her view is the same as Miss Dulin and Taylor Wimpey has breached its planning agreement.

She said: “We have just been treated so badly. The council is letting Taylor Wimpey do whatever they want. I have no privacy at all.”

Anne-Marie Hynes, 51, also agreed with her neighbours and said she has too young children who were unable to enjoy the summer months in their because of the work.

She said: “My daughters are 13 and 11 and during summer we were concerned about their safety as there were people going in and out of the development.

“I feel like I am living in the building site myself. There is constant drilling and a light that always shines straight into my kitchen.

“If they had left the trees it would still have been an eyesore but it would not have been that bad. It is now a risk of constant flooding because of the lack of trees.”

A Taylor Wimpey spokesperson said: “We have been in regular contact with the residents of Bullhead Road since the trees were removed last year in accordance with the approved planning permission.

“While there is no planning requirement for us to do so, as a gesture of goodwill we offered to plant screening trees in their rear gardens at our cost, as well offering a contribution towards the cost of moving any sheds or other items to make this work possible. This offer was met with reluctance from the residents, who would like to receive a significantly higher contribution.

“We are complying fully with the planning permission for this development and have no obligation to undertake any further tree planting, which was offered purely as an attempt to be as considerate as possible to the residents of Bullhead Road.”

Speaking on behalf of Hertsmere Borough Council Cath Shepherd said they are currently investigating a formal complaint about this matter and will respond to the complainant in full.

She also said no objections were raised to the planning application for this development as part of the statutory processes or when the application was heard at the planning committee.

The two Scotch pine trees were not covered by a tree preservation order and were not deemed to be of amenity value during a survey.

A meeting also took place between the developers and nearby residents, which was facilitated by the council. As a goodwill gesture, the developers offered to plant some new trees in the neighbours’ gardens and the council provided advice about suitable species.