sudo user permission denied to directories inside vhosts directory since 11.5

[CrazyDave]

I had a sudo user set up that could browse and change files within all vhosts directories via ssh.

Since updating to 11.5+ the user gets permission denied errors when trying to access any directory inside vhosts.
The same user still has access to other lower directories.

Adding the user to the psaserv group does not alter this.
I cannot change the group/owner of these directories as it takes the sites down.

I still have root access but need a sudo user to be able to access these files.
Would be grateful for any possible explanation / solution?