Residents of a new build estate which has been shamed online over an ‘oppressive’ 40ft wall have defended their homes.
The terraced houses and flats stand in the shadow of the towering structure on Chester Pike, on the Rise, in Newcastle.
The properties were built by Barratt Homes and are worth an average of £180K, according to Zoopla.
Posting on X, Ben Holmes shared a picture of the wall and said: ‘Just scrolling through some old photos and came across this absolute gem. It’s in Newcastle BTW.
‘Can’t imagine how oppressive the rear gardens are to love with, oh and the shed was up on the top tier, handy…’
But locals have hit back, saying it is ‘mad’ the structure has been singled out.
HGV driver Robert Richardson, 62, moved into the estate last year and lives in a property directly in front of the 40ft high wall.
He told MailOnline: ‘This is the first I’ve heard of it. I am absolutely baffled as to why anyone would be interested.
‘The wall is there to support the houses above, they are on two levels.
‘It’s doing its job. I have no idea what the problem is.’
IT worker Saima Younis, 42, added: ‘I quite like the wall.
‘If it wasn’t there, the houses above would fall down.
‘As far as I know, no-one here has an issue with it.
‘I am a busy mum, I never think about the wall.
‘Anyone who does clearly has too much time on their hands.
‘I like living here, it’s quiet and peaceful.
‘I have never heard anyone make a comment about it.’
Resident Thomas, who wanted to be known only by his first name, said: ‘It’s a supporting wall.
‘It’s nothing to moan about. There’s certainly more important things to worry about than that.
‘But I have heard people say it’s like living next to the Titanic.’
Caroline Richardson, a secretary in her 50s, said: ‘The wall actually gives us a lot of privacy.
‘We’d rather have it at the back than another garden.
‘It was there when we bought the house. We wouldn’t have gone ahead if we hadn’t have liked the layout.
‘Planning permission has obviously been granted for it, what’s the problem?
‘Whoever has posted this online needs to mind their own business. What’s it got to do with them?’
Another resident, who wanted to be known only as Alex, said: ‘That wall is there now, what can you do?
‘Are people really complaining about that? It doesn’t bother me, like.
‘That’s a bit mad.
‘It’s never crossed my mind that there’s anything wrong with the wall.
‘It’s better for privacy, obviously.
‘No one’s ever mentioned it to me. It’s probably the most mental thing I have ever heard.’
A mum, who wished to remain anonymous, added: ‘I don’t have an issue with the wall, I think it’s all right. We were aware of it when we moved in.
‘It’s not flat here, so it was built with the landscape in mind.
‘I filled in a survey for Barratt Homes and I suggested putting seeds in it, and making it into a living wall, with greenery.
‘It would be more breathable, become less of a structure and more of a focal point.
‘There is a sustainable aspect to these houses, as they are just powered by electricity, there is no gas. A living wall would fit in well with that concept.’
