A retired couple say their mental health and quality of life have collapsed after returning from holiday to find a new housing estate being built just beyond their garden fence. Martine Le Barth, 75, and her husband moved to South Molton’s Parklands estate in Devon in 1992 and say they were assured the land behind their home would remain undeveloped.

But they were left “flabbergasted” after coming back from a six-month trip to discover two-storey houses had sprung up next to their bungalow, with more on the way. Mrs Le Barth said the construction has robbed them of their privacy, sunlight, and sleep, and left them feeling ignored by both the developer and the council. She said: “My mental health has been really affected and my sleeping pattern too. Over three nights I must have managed six or seven hours at most – it is bad.”

The couple said builders were initially hammering from 7am, waking them daily and disrupting their routine.

And although the early morning noise has eased, the visual impact remains severe, they say.

Mrs Le Barth said: “Our house went from being the most desirable to the least desirable with those big buildings so close to us."

The new houses are part of Tilia Homes’ 129-property Cashmere Park development, approved by North Devon Council in 2021 and including more than 20% affordable housing.

It also features public green space, a children’s play area and biodiversity improvements, according to the developer.

But Mrs Le Barth insists she was unaware of the details — claiming she received plans for a different scheme and missed the consultation process altogether.

She said: “We were flabbergasted when we came back after Christmas and saw they’d built two-storey houses so very, very close.

“They sent us the wrong plan originally and we missed the consultation. Later I found out it was in summer 2021 — but the minutes say no neighbours were there. No wonder, because no one was told.”

Sunlight to the family’s bedroom, garden and study is now blocked, she said — and the couple feel constantly overlooked.

Mrs Le Barth added: “They’ve got a view into our bedroom and our study. They actually look down into our living quarters.

“We asked for frosted windows but have been ignored. I can’t dry clothes outside anymore because the sun doesn’t reach the line. It’s really upsetting.”

Moving out is unlikely, she said, but the property value has dropped sharply.

“When we die, our children won’t get the value the house could have had in the first place.”

Tilia Homes said it was committed to minimising disruption while delivering “much-needed homes” and that the planning layout had not changed since 2021.

It added that the site manager enforces working hours of 8am–6pm on weekdays and 9am–1pm on Saturdays.

A spokesperson said: “We will be contacting Mr and Mrs Le Barth to discuss their concerns directly.”

North Devon Council said: “This matter is currently being dealt with through our feedback and complaints procedure.”