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?

@TonTonMacoute agree

Ask sports England. Also worth speaking to the environmental planning dept of the council. We are always being encouraged to play sport and have our kids outside so a playground and sports field fits that council strategy.

If you look at CPRE Sussex Facebook page they've got photos of several sites in the Sussex Weald which have been earmarked for new housing, all flooded!

They'll still build them. In 2000, 800 homes in my town were flooded, along with a big chunk of the town centre. About a quarter of the town was affected.

Despite this, they have built loads and loads of homes in areas that flooded. They include a significant social housing development and some very exclusive houses facing the river.

They have also granted planning permission for a development of 400 homes near the river, in one of the areas that was most badly affected, together with retail and leisure "opportunities" on the riverbank.

The developers are going to build a new health centre that will accommodate the existing 3 GP practices, as part of their bribe S.106 condition. The health centre will be on the same low-lying land as the new housing, so will be out of commission for months if it floods again.

The 2000 floods would have been far less extensive had they not built a supermarket and industrial estate on what had been water meadows. Once it was developed, the water had nowhere to go and poured across the former water meadow into people's houses.

And still they're building on the flood plain ...

Sorry, meant to say that this is in East Sussex too.

This screenshot came up when I was reading this thread.

I agree we need more social and affordable housing - especially as so many council properties were sold off under Right to Buy and not replaced - but developments like this are hardly going to help tackle homelessness. For green belt developments, only around 1 in 10 of the houses built are affordable, and that's with a sometimes generous definition of affordability. And despite the apparent shortage of homes, my husband has been trying to sell a property since September and has only had about two viewings.

OP, does your council have a brownfield land register? It is possible that there are some sites they are not aware of and which could be used to meet their housing targets.

I doubt you will have any influence on the planning decision, but you might have some influence over your acquired rights of way to the rear of your property. I suggest legal advice and your home insurance might help with that.

I sympathise in that it sounds like you have (had) an idyllic spot. I agree with previous people that there is a massive requirement for housing. I find it a bit odd that they're building on playing fields without replacing the equipment. I have lived on a 'new' development for over 15 years and the area has grown and grown. I can think of at least 4 play areas within 5-10 mins walk. The developers are obliged to put them in. There is also a community centre.

Perhaps this would be the place to start? Accept what has to happen but make sure it makes the place you live better?

Do you currently have a gate in your back garden leading to the field? You should still have that access even if they build if you have an established right of easement.

Sport England is your best bet here. They are statutory consultees and as such have the power to block planning applications on playing pitches.

Try and find out if your borough council has an up to date playing pitch strategy. If they do then that will specify the number of pitches that area should provide. If the playing pitch number is being reduced they need to be replaced somewhere somehow. If there's nowhere to move them then Sport England can block the application.

This genuinely is your best bet to stop it.

You have some good advice here.

Yes to checking what your local plans say. Make sure you check the most recent. They range from parish upwards and all are relevant.

Check their housing demand forecast.

Check status of the site. What the plans identify the use as. What the plans say about the future for the site. Why that site?

Check the planning portal for any planning applications on the site. The project may have a website.

I agree about confirming any access rights you have over land you do not own. Your house is old. Is the gate old? Historic access rights?

Ime projects fall over for reasons such as:

Inadequate consultation
Lack of compliance with local plans
Air quality
Road safety
Inadequate 'need' case. Need and alternative is a planning requirement.
Designated sites/protected species
Check what the environment agency has on flooding and WFD.

I too am intrigued by the play park. It's a bit odd. Who owns the land? Sounds like a lot of change of use required.

What policies do they have on climate change? That's another one. If you are remots/far from employment this should be justified somewhere.

Good luck.

Thank you. Bit limited on time right now but wanted you all to know I'm still here and reading.

Yes, I have a gate onto the field. Every house does. They've been in for around 25 years (longest resident, in reality probably much longer than that)