Overview

• Les Whitaker, 75, returned from a month-long holiday in India to find a large two-storey extension built next to his Shrewsbury home without his prior knowledge.
• Shropshire Council approved the development last September under a policy that no longer requires direct neighbor notifications, instead relying on site notices and online portals.
• Whitaker claims the new structure blocks sunlight, diminishes privacy, and may reduce his property’s value, describing it as an 'eyesore' larger than his bungalow.
• Council officials maintain the development meets legal requirements and argue it does not cause overbearing impacts, light loss, or privacy issues.
• The incident highlights broader concerns about reduced transparency in planning processes and the shift to digital notifications, which some residents may overlook.