To ask for help objecting to a proposed build

[QuestionableMouse]

I live in a row of houses that has a playing field on one side and farmland on the other. Part of the farmland is currently being built on with a development of 70 houses. I objected to that as did most of the village to no avail.

Now the council want to build 40 houses on the playing field. This will block access to my back garden and will mean my house is overlooked (the plans drafted show the new houses will have parking that's basically right against my fence.)

Its basically doubling the size of the village. There's no plan to manage the extra traffic (each house has parking for 2 cars plus visitor parking so in the region of 300 extra cars). The access currently isn't great and can get blocked in bad weather.

No one in the village wanted either development (including the parish Council) but the Borough Council overruled the objections. Its going to totally change the village. Please can you help me object?

You need to look at the local plan and speak to your local councillor

Get all the old residents to join together to protest against the planning application, do you have a local MP who would support your objections? Taking away local open space is one objection, the fact that infrastructure for things like school places, doctor's , increased traffic etc isn't there is another objection. If you can't get the building stopped, at least try to force the developers to finance the extra schools, traffic calming etc.

Everyone objects to new houses and then it's generally fine once it's done and dusted.

I live on a new build estate. I was at an activity with someone who's said "I protested against the housing estate to live on being built, but now a lot of my new fiends live there"

Can I suggest that you formally ask the Council (whom I assume own the playing field?) to look to change the designation of the playing field from its present classification to Accessible Natural Green Space ie as an undeveloped and natural open space for use by the local community.

Contact Natural England to find out more
publications.naturalengland.org.uk/file/78003

Local councillors and MPs often lend their support to residents' campaigns. I went to a 3.5-hour residents' meeting recently about a site that might be released from the Green Belt in a forthcoming Local Plan (there's no specific planning application yet, but it's generated a lot of anxiety). The local MP was there in support. She has since lost her seat to a Conservative MP who also supports the campaign to keep the site in the green belt and protect it from development, amd even got a picture of Boris Johnson holding up a sign in support of protecting the site. However, it's because of the high housing targets set by his government that the site might be released from the green belt; the council might not have enough brownfield land to meet the targets. So there's a bit of a contradiction there. My local MP also objected to another greenfield development. The council refused it, but the Planning Inspector allowed the developer's appeal.

The housing that is currently being built has devastated the site--every tree and hedge has been hacked down, the wildlife has been displaced and there's mud everywhere

Just like when the house you live in was built

Is it a school playing field?

The local highways people will be totally useless, IME they never see any future road problems no matter how narrow the roads or how many new houses (with cars ) are planned.

Some people are having success with protesting about the increase in traffic emissions. Is there more public transport being provided or will there just be hundreds more cars? Has the local council declared a climate emergency?

Engage with sport England as well if this is a playing field

@jimmyhill

Nope. My house is around 115 years old and was built on the site of an old barn. I've got a tree in my garden that was planted by the farmer.

It isn't a school playing field, just a large grass area with some play equipment (swings, slide, roundabout, that sort of thing.)

Thanks everyone for the advice. I'm taking it all in even if I don't reply directly.

Two developments in our village have minimal social housing (allocated to housing association), the rest are 3, 4 & 5 bed expensive houses of which there is plenty already on the market. Some will become 2nd homes/holiday lets. Mostly too expensive for people who work locally so will presumably be sold to commuters.
Incomers already complaining that they can't get their children into the village school.

Nope. My house is around 115 years old and was built on the site of an old barn. I've got a tree in my garden that was planted by the farmer.

Underneath your house used to be a field where animals used to live. Likewise the road you drive up to your house on.

Every human home was once a green and unspoiled bit of countryside. Even yours. Until someone came along and polluted it with human habitation.

You're just about pulling the ladder up because you enjoy the view that your own house spoiled.

Open up a shop selling pitchforks. You'll be quids in!

If I was in your shoes, I would be objecting to it on the basis of the loss of playing fields. The National Playing Fields Association should be able to advise what you need to do.

The council can stipulate extra money from the developers to go towards improved services.
They can try but there is a very lucrative Industry helping them to avoid all but the most puny section 106 provisions

Open up a shop selling pitchforks.
Utterly pathetic

Every human home was once a green and unspoiled bit of countryside. Even yours. Until someone came along and polluted it with human habitation.

Yes. Luckily we know more about conservation and ecology now. And the human benefits of green spaces.

Is there more public transport being provided or will there just be hundreds more cars? Has the local council declared a climate emergency?
Around here the sole concession to what the planners laughably call sustainability is a waste of paper called a transport pack for every new house which describes the transport “choices” which are in reality - use your car.

Every human home was once a green and unspoiled bit of countryside. Even yours. Until someone came along and polluted it with human habitation.
So this is a valid argument for densely populated new estates with insufficient infrastructure? Not very convincing.

You go on line on the local authority planning portal and you can comment on the application on there

Before you object however all new developments have a CIL charge - community infrastructure levy - perhaps find out what that is first - the developer will likely be contributing to enlarging the local schools, funding local libraries, improving roads etc - this should offset some of the impact of the housing

When you kids are looking for new housing in their local area to live in where do you think they'll live if everyone objects to new housing???

If they are demolishing the play area with that size of development they will most likely have to include new play areas in their plan

Underneath your house used to be a field where animals used to live
Maybe, but 115 years ago the house would have been built with some consideration for the surrounding environment, simply because the people who will have been building it would have been relying on the land and environment working in the way it was meant to. Not so now. EG Want to live somewhere convenient? In the middle of a natural flood plain? No problem. Multi million pound earning developers will build it, the local authority will allow it (especially if they benefit from a per property subsidy from the government), the EA will allow a river to be diverted (and won’t dredge as required because that’s too expensive). Your house and all the neighbours houses wil flood obviously, but so what? 🤦‍♀️

We have a similar issue local to me where the council are considering reclassifying the Green Belt as suitable for development. There is a local action group which is very vocal on social media and has lots of tips about how to object. Now all the objections we raised might not be relevant to you, but you have to speak the language the council wants to hear.

Acknowledge the need for more housing. Then say that "virgin" land should only be used when the council has exhausted the supply of brownfield sites. Mention any brownfield sites you know of locally.

Public transport - councils are all about getting people out of cars and into buses/trains so point out the lack of public transport in the area they are considering.

Impact on local services like schools, GP, dentists.

Wildlife concerns - any green space is vital for all manner of mammals, birds and insects.

it's also really important to get everyone to object, everyone who lives in your village not just the people who back onto the proposed development, as it will affect everyone. All adults in a house can file separate objections, not one per household. If you're really serious about stopping it, setting up a Facebook page to communicate with residents might be the way to go.

Anyone who voted Tory , if you think this is bad, just wait. They have plans to relax even further the Planning regime, all to the benefit of the profit hungry developers. Forget Green Belt, Areas of ONB etc.
Anywhere will be game.
There will not be a corresponding increase in local infrastructure, because that’s paid for out of taxes.
Shitshow.

YANBU
It is not nimbyism to want to preserve your home value and views that you bought that house for. It is not nimbyism to want services like schools, doctors, hospital and capital into transport links to support new housing.
There are literally thousands of houses already standing that are empty and doing those up to provide housing should be the first port of call IMO. But property developers don’t want that as they don’t make as much money off them.
Our village has been decimated with building and there is talk of many many more being allowed😢 We have huge waiting lists at local schools and GPS struggling to manage with no extra funding at all. They have just also approved planning for a nursing home with over a 100 residents, which GPS said they just could not support-but approved it was! Our roads are chocker with traffic and air pollution is as high as living in a major city at times, with many many accidents. Combined with that is the loss of trees and wildlife meaning that for the first time ever, the village flooded this year...

It is not nimbyism to want to preserve your home value and views that you bought that house for.

Yes it really is