THE neighbours of a new housing development in Borehamwood say their lives have been blighted by severe subsidence and a flouting of building regulations.

Four terraced houses have been built by Abbey New Homes in Arundel Drive, which are more than 1.5 metres higher than originally planned.

The Potters Bar-based developer has refused to comment on why the homes are bigger, but has recently submitted an application for retrospective planning permission to Hertsmere Borough Council.

Cherry Travis, 51, and her mother Beryl, 82, who live behind the homes in Hampton Close, feel the company has “flouted the rules”.

Miss Travis said: “I think they should be demolished. That would be amazing, but I can’t see it happening.

“To flout building regulations in such a bad way stinks and unless someone says something, and lets people know what’s happening, it will continue.”

The freelance cook and housekeeper has also received no explanation as to why the homes are higher than planned.

She visited one of the offending homes, which has been opened as a show home, and feels it now overlooks her property too much.

A further blow has been the subsidence of her garden path which runs along the side of her house and adjoins a part of the same construction site, where a block of flats are currently being built.

The path has shifted by several inches, tearing it from the side of her home and leaving gaps and cracks.

The developer has agreed to fix the subsidence, but the dispute over the size of the four homes at the rear of Miss Travis’ home trundles on.

In theory the developer could be ordered by Hertsmere Borough Council to tear down the development.

The decision is likely to go before councillors on the planning committee in the coming months, because of the contentious nature of the development, however a date has not yet been set.

Miss Travis said she will speak against the retrospective planning application and has contacted her councillors for support.