A homeowner has won the ‘Battle of the Berlin Wall’ after officials allowed him to keep an ‘eyesore’ structure along the boundary of his £1m seaside home.

Ken Lynch incurred the wrath of his neighbours after he replaced a wooden boundary fence with the 75ft long by 7ft tall grey concrete wall.

They compared it to the Berlin Wall and complained to the local planning authority that it was overly dominant and oppressive.

Pictured: The property on Sandbanks Road (SEE ARROW) (Image: BNPS)

They added it was out of keeping with the picturesque neighbourhood of Lilliput, a posh suburb on the edge of Poole Harbour.

Mr Lynch had to apply for retrospective permission to keep the wall which he has now been granted by BCP Council.

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Planning officer Camilla Bastidas found that while the wall was of a ‘more solid appearance’ it did not appear to be visually intrusive or incongruous.

She also pointed out that there were other tall front and side boundary walls in the area and they helped form part of the established character of the neighbourhood.

The “Berlin Wall” of Sandbanks Road (Image: BNPS)

Neighbours said they were ‘dismayed’ by the decision which they said gave property developers the green light to do whatever they wanted.

Jo Spragg, 58, a clothing brand owner, said: “It is very disappointing that they have approved that eyesore.

“It contravenes planning law and should not have been built in the first place.

“There is no precedent for it here and no other walls like it.

“It sends out the message that you can do something against the rules and keep your fingers crossed as that is the best tactic.”

Pictured: The property on Sandbanks Road (SEE ARROW) (Image: BNPS)

Another neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I’m dismayed. I went to Berlin and saw the wall and all this one needs is some paint and it would be its twin.

“It is an eyesore and the council are saying do what you want because they don’t care about the appearance of the area.”

Mr Lynch refused to comment on the outcome but described publicity of it as an ‘invasion of privacy’.

The corner property used to be a quaint bungalow which had a low brick wall so passersby could look into the front garden and enjoy its colourful herbaceous borders.

The former owner won planning permission to add another story and a rear extension to the bungalow to form a large detached house.

Mr Lynch bought the property in February 2025 for £1m and replaced the wooden fence with the grey wall.