THE owner of a futuristic-looking house near Oxford has been accused of breaking a planning condition by cutting down a hedge.

Former Oxford Covered Market trader Richard Alden is building the four-bedroom property in Boars Hill, which will have a garage and gardens.

He said a hedge bordering the south side of the property was in poor condition and needed to be cut down.

But neighbours have now complained its removal put the construction site in full view of houses at the bottom of the hill in Sunningwell.

The retention of the hedge to a height of 2.5 metres was a condition imposed by Vale of the White Horse District Council when it granted planning permission for the home in November 2013.

Neighbour Ed Tilley, of Sunningwell, told the council in a letter: “We live at the bottom of the hill and can see the development from every room in our house and the garden.

“Before the hedge was removed we could see the roof of the old property from our garden, but after removal, we can see the whole house.

“Needless to say I am a bit annoyed that we’ve had full view of a building site for the best part of a year, when taking the hedge down was a clear breach of the planning application.”

The father-of-two added: “It is a popular spot for walkers and it has just ruined the view.”

In the statement of planning permission sent to Mr Alden, the district council said keeping the hedge was a condition for building approval.

Head of planning Adrian Duffield wrote: “The existing hedge along the whole of the south and west boundaries of the land shall be retained and properly maintained at a height of not less than 2.5 metres.

“Any plant which may die or be seriously damaged or destroyed within five years of the completion of the development shall be replaced and the replacement shall be properly maintained.”

He said this was to help the house blend in with its surroundings.

But Mr Alden defended the hedge’s removal and pledged to plant a new one in its place.

He said: “We are still in the middle of building and the hedge was found to be in poor condition and needed to be taken out as part of the work.

“There was nothing secret or underhand about it, we have told the council that we have removed it.

“It will be replanted and looked after and kept at its correct height.”