To pull out of house purchase as new development being built 300 metres away

[Rumblestrips]

Name changed for this. I’m about £3k into a house purchase (fees plus survey, solicitors) and just happened to google new housing developments near me and was gutted to learn that an already in progress 1800 home development will extend within the next five years to within 300m of the house I’m buying.

In between the side of me and the development will be eight existing houses and a narrow lane and a high hedgerow (I don’t know if the hedge will remain). The development will be built in the field behind the hedge. In front of me is the same narrow road and an existing row of houses and the development will extend into the field behind these houses. I don’t know if this will form enough of a buffer between me and the new houses.

I am obviously kicking myself that I didn’t find this out sooner before paying for solicitors but glad to have discovered it before any exchange of contracts.

According to planning documents that I’ve found online, there will be a new road built to serve the development. It’s not clear whether the lane running outside my house will have an access road onto this new road. There will be a new roundabout built about 1km away. A new primary school is currently under construction a good distance away.

I am potentially willing to walk away despite being this far through the process. I am not bothered about inconvenience from the construction process as that won’t last forever. I am worried about the impact that the development may have on the tone and character of the local area, which is a village. I am worried about the increased traffic and congestion in the area even though the development will have its own road. I don’t like the sound of the new roundabout as that is very urbanising.

Things which make the decision difficult are that my child attends the local school, it’s a great location for my job and I love the existing area. A couple of the houses which will be closer to the development than me were bought at least two years after the planning permission was granted. So either those buyers didn’t know, or weren’t bothered. Maybe I should knock on doors and ask.

I’m not sure whether to pull out or not. I don’t want to throw the baby out with the bath water and miss out on a house in an area that ticks so many boxes. But I don’t know if I will like being close to a new housing development as the place may lose its rural feel.

No way would I buy the house. But I thought the searches bought up this kind of thing?

I'd go knock and chat to the neighbours. Locals often know more.

Search is still ongoing. This is all my own (rather late!!) research.

I would pull out. The development may affect the future value of your house to way more than 3K - let alone having to live through all the works. Don't get caught up in a sunk fallacy.

Your standard searches WON’T flag this up, unless you get a specific planning search.

A Local Search only reveals the history of the property you are buying.

Good job you were diligent.

@superninny101 thanks for putting it like that with the sunk cost fallacy. Gets rid of the pain of being £3k in already!

@VeronicasCloset didn’t know that re searches, thought this stuff came up as standard. The local search is the one that’s still ongoing. I am annoyed i didn’t ask the estate agent when I viewed it, wonder what they would have said!

@Seren00090 definitely going to swallow my shyness and speak to the neighbours. So much at stake.

Could you get something else in the area you want to be for school/work that is away from the development? Any house of the edge of a town or village has the potential to be built near

The houses aren’t right next to you though so will it be as bad as you think? I would definitely find out about the access road

@sleepyscientist there is another house away from the development but outside my budget. Houses don’t come up here often as it’s a sought after area. I only googled it because I looked on the map and saw the open countryside and was like hmm that’s prime land for development and sadly it is.

Have a look on Facebook for the village group and join.

Is this in Wales by chance as they are building lots of housing where it isn't needed and the infrastructure is lacking.

My advice would be to walk away. 4 years ago we bought a lovely house on a quiet lane, knowing the current owner was building a new house further up the lane. We didn't think it would be a problem - the disruptive building works were one thing, the illegal ripping out of the old hedgerow replaced by twiggy shrubs, and the issues with water run off on the lane as a result have been issues we didn't foresee. And there's nothing we can do.

If its a development by the housing developer, dont expect them to follow their plans. Far too many round here change their ideas ans get retrospective consent, or in a case by us, rip out metres of ancient hedges illegally with only a slap on the wrist. Housing development is like the wild west.

Yanbu. I would do the same.

Use it as bargaining to get it much much cheaper?

300m isn't right on your doorstep. If the access road isn't near you then the impact won't necessarily be too much.

I'd talk to the neighbours. Find out their views and what they know.

Unfortunately, in the current crazy house building climate, developments like this can suddenly be proposed almost anywhere and at anytime.

That green field can always be built on. Caveat emptor.

@Jewelspun ive joined the village Facebook but unfortunately it’s not a great source of info. I think mainly because most people are located away from the development so are unaffected. This house is on an outer spur of the village. No, not in Wales.

In that case I would go for it if you love the house and want to be there. Being on the edge of an estate isn't the end of the world

@LittleMooli definitely thinking to go to the seller with a lower offer. If I’d known about the development I don’t think I would have offered. The logical conclusion from that though is to pull out…

Doesn't matter where you buy, chances are someone will start building nearby.

@Lindy2 ive come up with some red lines. There must be no access road between my lane and the new road on the development - I know that sounds really nimby.

and second, the high hedgerow has to be preserved.

getting answers to these are probably going to be difficult. First stop will be the neighbours and then the council.

I’d make further enquiries but any field these days is at risk of being built on.
at least in this case you will know what you’re dealing with. If you moved in and a development then got the go ahead you’d be stuck with it. As it stands you have a choice. Better the devil you know that the devil you don’t.

@memoriesofamiga sorry that happened to you. I’m really concerned about the hedgerow here which is also ancient. The planning doc had comments about felling trees to make the new roundabout and road. Heartbreaking given how beautiful it is.

Yeah fuck that

You must be really disappointed OP. Best lose a few grand avoiding this - than lose a lot more if you were to go ahead.

Do you have an alternative lined up or do you simply intend to start looking again?