The popularity of luxury garden sheds and rooms has surged since the pandemic, as homeowners seek additional office, gym and living space. However, this trend has sparked significant neighbour disputes, with tensions rising over building size, positioning and planning permission breaches. The case of Linda illustrates the conflict: her garden room infringed planning regulations on height and proximity to boundaries, leading to a breakdown in neighbourhood relations and retrospective planning battles that have become increasingly common across Britain.

Planning regulations in England and Wales cap garden buildings at 2.5 metres high if built within 2 metres of a boundary, or up to 4 metres if further away. Linda's shed exceeded these limits and was ordered to comply with retrospective planning permission requirements, with privacy screening mandated as a condition. Planning consultants report demand for such projects has increased tenfold since the pandemic, with disputes now affecting all social classes—even rock musician David Gilmour was forced to relocate a shed in Hampstead after neighbours objected. Experts attribute the surge to people seeking home working spaces and additional accommodation as the housing crisis persists.