Neighbour's tree - update

[fingerlicking]

If you read my original thread about my neighbour's unreasonable demands in a not like for like replacement of a Hawthorn tree in a shared hedge, there is an update.

I have paid for the replacement with a different larger tree in a different spot. However, it has made me feel so different about living here. They are new neighbours so I haven't felt this way before.

Our very large garden is L shaped. The bottom of the L adjoins their garden and the bottom of the L runs along the bottom of other neighbours' gardens. That part of the garden is about 0.2 acres square. It has access of 4 metres wide to a main road and is in an allowed development area within our village. When we purchased the house 5 years ago we were told that it was prime development. We didn't develop it as we wanted to stay in our home and wanted a huge garden.

We are now working with an architect to put plans together for 2 or possibly 3 detached 3/4 bed houses. We live an hours commute from the City of London and the land would be worth over £300k. It would clear our mortgage and would still leave our home with a large garden so would not reduce our house value much at all.

We could then sell up, have a bigger house with half the mortage. No brainer really.

Silly neighbours have forced our hand.

ADish, I feel horrible about it. They are lovely, they are retired. They have my 8 year old son round to do gardening with them. They keep chickens and they let him feed them and gather the eggs.

Yes I feel dreadful. This is why for 5 years we have not developed the land, even though it would mean hundreds of thousands of £s for us.

I would most likely speak to them quietly once I have spoken to the duty planning officer. I will do it before any plans have gone in so that if they want to sell, they can before any paper work, so any prospective buyer's solicitor won't find anything on a search.

Actually, that sounds worse than anything.

Finger you have to think what others would do. It's all very well being a beacon of neighbourliness but I know of very few people who would turn down the chance to live an easier life and have more money just so the neighbours are happy.

Most people would put themselves and their family first, I know I would. In this day and age when jobs are insecure and finances are tight it seems madness NOT to give yourself some financial stability.

Be careful though, if the neighbour keys cars I'd make sure you are well protected.

If your throne doing the plans, you can always tr y and make sure that the new houses are designed to have as little impact as possible on the nice neighbours

Marking my spot to see what happens with the new neighbors for this.
Well done OP.

Think about it this way. This land would probably have been developed years ago, if it had been sold to somebody else than you. Or if the previous owner had partitioned it out and sold it as two lots, your house and land for development.

As it is, because YOU have owned the land, the current neighbours have been enjoying uninterrupted views. But, if nobody were to build anywhere so as not to interrupt the view of people, we would all live in very tall shoeboxes.

Anybody should be prepared for the fact that a house may be built on open and available land in an area with permitted development, especially if more homes are needed.

What can you do? Build a low house? Build a long bungalow? Or semi detached "retirement" bungalows? Plant trees along the border?

Can only second what the PP's have said with speak to the planning department first.
There is no such thing as a shoe in, and although planners do take account of housing need/growth, it is not by any means the over-riding factor.

I've just been re-reading the OP and realised that you are planning on having 2 or even 3, 3/4 bed houses detached houses, all on 2/5th of an acre (the short arm of the 'L' shape?) all sharing the same 4 metre access to the road.

I feel more sorry for the nice neighbours now, but I do think planning consent might not be as straight forward as you've been given to understand.

How many neighbours overlook the land? Is the access at one end of that short arm of the 'L' shape? (If so how will the 'further away' one or two houses get their cars in?) All sounds a bit squashed, but it'll be really interesting to hear how you get on.

The 4 metre access is at the end of a cul-de-sac. The cul-de-sac has about 4 blocks of retirement flats - they are only 2 storey high, so not really 'blocks'.

Does the access open onto a cul-de-sac or a main road? (you have mentioned both) Do you actually have right of access to the road/cul-de-sac- and is it for one dwelling? I just ask because that was something my neighbour came a cropper on- he did not have right of access for the multiple properties he wanted to create, only the existing house. So check everything carefully- our neighbour also went through pre-planning stage and was told he would likely succeed with the PP. Then things he had not thought of got thrown up once it was open to objections.

HOly Mary they will go ape shit. here was me thinking you were a being bullied. Don't annoy the quiet ones.