A homeowner in St Margaret’s will be writing to the ombudsman after he claims a “monstrous” development at the end of his garden has taken away his privacy.

Graham Shepherd, 66, has only lived in Well Lane with his wife Daphne, 72, for a year, but already fears he won’t be able to sell it on because of its decreased value due to a six-home development.

Planning permission was granted for the development on a former paddock in Townsend Farm Road, which includes four chalet bungalows, in January, and work began immediately.

As well as objecting throughout the planning stages, Mr Shepherd has continually contacted Dover District Council (DDC) since permission was granted.

He now plans to go to the ombudsman.

He said: “It’s monstrous. We’ve got no privacy at all. We’ve got 13 windows looking straight into us.

“These bungalows that they’re building are obscuring every view that we may have, and that was why we bought the house.

“It’s obscuring everything.”

Planning permission was refused last July, but an amended plan was passed in January. Mr Shepherd said: “We objected at the initial planning stages and it was initially turned down because of privacy reasons. We want to know how this ever got planning permission?”

The couple have been writing to DDC with their complaints ever since, but have been told that there is nothing more that they can do providing the homes are being built to the agreed specification.

But they are unwilling to accept that, and are now planning to write to the ombudsmen – an official appointed to investigate individual complaints against public authorities.

He said: “I’d just like somebody to come out and look out of our back window and see what we are looking at.

“I can’t ever imagine anyone wanting to buy our property now or anyone who would want to buy the new ones as we can look right into their bedrooms.”

Mr Shepherd has bought and planted a row of trees, which he hopes will grow up and provide some privacy for both parties.

The retired plumbing and heating engineer also claims that the stress of the situation has had an impact on his health.

He said: “I’ve been ill and I think this is all to do with this.”

A DDC spokesman said: “The planning committee resolved to grant permission for this development at its meeting on January 26, after taking all relevant factors into consideration.

“In particular, the report to committee included a section on the effect of the scheme on the amenities of neighbouring property.

“Members of the public can take a complaint of maladministration to the ombudsman, although they would first have to have gone through the council’s own complaints process.”