U.K. landowner denied right to build a home on his inherited land because the neighbors treat the area as a private park: 'I have applied for planning permission three times now'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Apr 6, 2026 8:00 AM EDT

This U.K. citizen had hoped to build a home on the plot of land he inherited from his father. That pursuit proved to be a challenge, given that he ended up embroiled in an ongoing legal dispute with the town.

Originally from Northern Ireland, the first-time landowner was planning on renewing the construction plans that his recently deceased parent was hoping to finish before his passing. Those permission plans, which had been previously granted by the township, had expired in 2023. 

Since then, the landowner has attempted to request permission to build property on his own rightful land, but each time, that request was denied. At first, he assumed that the reasoning was the ambitious nature of what he was proposing. So, he adjusted his proposal of building three homes on the property to two homes. That request was denied outright as well. Naturally, the landowner submitted a third request to build just one home on this land, to no avail.

It turns out that the reason had nothing to do with his actual plans. The real justification was that since those project permissions expired three years ago, community members began viewing this empty, undeveloped land as a park. Kids would play there. Dogs would be allowed to roam free there unleashed. 

In fact, it seemed as if everyone was allowed to make use of the property, except for its rightful owner. 

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  • A young landowner stands in his field wearing a checkered button-down shirt.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    A young landowner stands in his field wearing a checkered button-down shirt. 

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • I own a field. I want to build a house there. Neighbors are objecting because their kids play football there and they let their dogs off leash there without my permission.

    Brief History: * Dad was a farmer. Owned several fields scattered around Northern Ireland. * In 2018 he got planning permission to build 4 houses on one large field.
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  • * He did not build them due to going into nursing care. Planning permission expired in 2023.
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  • * I inherited this large field which is surrounded by properties on all 3 sides. Current situation: * I have applied for planning permission three times now for 3 houses, 2 houses and a single large house on this field.
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  • * It has been rejected each time after massive objections from everyone who surrounds my field.
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  • * The gorunds on which is was rejected was to protect residential amenity. Objections from neighbours come from 3 main grounds: 1.
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  • The residential amenity that I previously mentioned; 2. The field is being used by their kids for playing football etc.
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  • 3. People are letting their dogs off leash in there so they can run. I have repeatedly padlocked the gate, but it keeps getting cut off with boltcutters.
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  • Is there anything else I can do at this point with respect to either building a house on land I own, or keeping everyone else off my field.
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  • It can't even be used for grazing anymore as all the dog excrement k animals. I'm in a situation where about 20 houses are simultaneously denying me the right to build anything on my own land, and also relentlessly using my land for their own enjoyment.
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  • They're littering on it, dog fouling, and tearing it up with studded football boots.
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  • A young landowner stands in his field holding some crops he has grown.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    A young landowner stands in his field holding some crops he has grown.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • The landowner took this online community to share his grievances and gain advice on what he can do to fulfill his desires without upsetting the community. Naturally, he was hoping to live there, so even if he did end up succeeding in his goals, he was going to have to coexist with these folks. As such, he obviously didn't want them to resent him too much.

    On the other hand, he might have to demonstrate a firm refusal to accept these circumstances in order to be taken seriously. Keep scrolling below to see what members of this online community had to say about the U.K. citizen's predicament.

  • TrackTeddy Large palisade fencing all around it to prevent access. That removes the only planning objection and will secure the site for future building activities.
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  • Leading_Amount1180 Original Poster's Reply Sorry, I forgot to mention that I was also told not to do that. I argued that I'd just fence the whole thing off with a taller metal fence. I was warned against doing this as The Strategic Planning Policy Statement forbids harsh or oppressive boundaries, strucutres which visually dominate neighbouring views, or which damage teh character of local landscape. I currently have a wooden fence about 4ft high. I then suggested a taller wooden fence, which I w
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  • Glasgowlmmigrant Have you appealed the planning decision? It sounds like a decision is being made incorrectly under the belief this is public use land!
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  • Leading_Amount1180 Original Poster's Reply I did for the 2nd one. I haven't appealed the 3rd attempt yet as I only just received the rejection. I lost my appeal for building two houses as it would negatively impact the residential amenity. They raised concerns around the value my field provides for wildlife, including a badger and a fox. I've seen these animals crossing through my field in the evenings, but I do not believe they live there. There's no obvious burrows anywhere. Additionally, the
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  • younevershouldnt Did you ask them to clarify what those words meant to them in this context?
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  • Leading_Amount1180 Original Poster's Reply Aye. Multiple reasons. Imapct on the neighbour's privacy, shadowing of their properties to the left of the field, a "visual intrusion" on the landscape, and the environmental impacts I mentioned in another post - which is basically them complaining that I'm going to be forcing a badger and fox off my land. They tried arguing bats were nesting in my land too, but I managed to prove they were nesting somewhere else close by.
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  • Leading_Amount1180 Original Poster's Reply There's no electricity or water supplied to the field yet. I need to speak with NI Water about getting a water and sewage connection once I get planning permission. I also need to speak with NIE Networks to get my electricity connected. So, no CCTV. I've not seen anyone do it, but I've found the cut lock just lying on the ground multiple times now.
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  • Leading_Amount1180 Original Poster's Reply One of multiple reasons. The field is massive in size and I've already downscaled the plans multiple times now. My dad's original plan was 4 detached houses using about 80% of total field land. I'm now looking at a single house occupying about 30% of total field landa large garden. Plan was to get Tree Protection Orders put on the trees near the left and rear and keep the back as a nice natural area.
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  • No_Cicada3690 Do you have signs up declaring that it is private land and " trespassers will be prosecuted" ( unlikely I know but first thing you need is signage). You need to get serious about restricting access to the field and erect big 12 feet corrugated fence panels. Make it such a eyesore that they will welcome a few houses.
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  • Leading_Amount1180 Original Poster's Reply My dad didn't care for them. Saw them as a nuisence that was getting in the way of him farming. I like them. We're losing far too many big beautiful oaks and ash trees.
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  • Diem-Perdidi Voluntarily seeking a TPO is a new one on me! What's your motivation there?
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landowner united kingdom dogs neighbors parks kids england legal homeowner
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