Neighbours claim they are facing “gloom and despondency” after a new estate was given planning permission – just inches from their kitchen and bedroom windows.

People living in maisonettes in West Heath Road, Childs Hill, say they are at a loss over what to do after it emerged the new houses being built alongside their properties would severely block the light.

Developers Global Homes Estates bought the building, which had previously been used as a small bungalow, for £3.4m, with planning permission from Barnet Borough Council already approved.

Andrew Thomas, who has lived in the road with his wife Lorraine for more than 20 years, has been left furious by the plans.

The IT consultant’s kitchen has been plunged into darkness by a wall opposite his window, and an upstairs bedroom now looks out onto a brick wall.

Mr Thomas said: “Our privacy has been destroyed and we’ve been denied all light. It’s terrible. It’s an ugly, overbearing eyesore.

“I used to have a nice view and now all I see is bricks. It’s incredible. I don’t understand how this has been allowed to happen.

“They are turning a nice little 1960s two-storey house into an ugly building.”

Although neighbours spoke up against the plans at committee meetings, the application approved, much to their dismay.

They now say they feel duped by the process as amendments to the application have since been approved without giving them the chance to object.

The block will span out over five floors as the attic and basement will also be converted into bedrooms, even though permission was only granted for a three-storey block.

Mr Thomas added: “The roof gables are almost touching. We also feel having the buildings so close to each other is a fire or a security hazard.

“We feel we have been misrepresented with regards to this. It’s a whitewash. We’ve been totally ignored. We’re strongly considering moving – we can’t live this way.”

The protesters say they are also plagued by the “ugly” sight of rubbish in the courtyard of the maisonettes, left by the builders carrying out work.

Although the developers originally promised to use a special type of copper to glaze the roof, it has since emerged a cheaper version was used, causing "a great glare”.

His neighbour, Martyn Woolf, 82, who has lived above Mr Thomas for 25 years, said: “It’s a ghastly block. With this, we are facing nothing but gloom and despondency. We want answers and we want to know how this is allowed to go on.”

A statement from Barnet Borough Council said: “Officers have investigated allegations relating to the development on West Heath Road and concluded that the building is being built on the whole in accordance with the approved plans.

"Where there are differences these are considered minor without any detrimental impact to neighbouring properties.

“We have received a complaint questioning the merits of the planning approval which we are looking into and will respond to accordingly.”

The Times Series is awaiting comment from Global Homes Estates.