Thwarting developers

[acornfed]

We live on a settlement edge and the field next to us has been sold to a developer.
It is a greenfield site and backs onto protected ancient woodland. The village has had a tonne of development over the past few years with some very cynical tactics played by the developers (felling ancient trees at nightfall , announcing plans just before Christmas so no one has time to meet and discuss).

How have people successfully thwarted developers? I understand the need for housing but I also think the shameless exploitation of countryside for profit is something to protest against.

The village already has various sites marked for housing possibilities within the boundaries.

Recently the trees on the field were cleared - probably to prepare the ground for planning to go in .

My property overlooks the field and any development would have an effect on the value of our property as the outlook is one of the main features. Our house is on a private Un adopted road- god knows how it would withstand more traffic on it.

Any advice very much appreciated

I wish you luck with your complaint but NIMBY also springs to mind. If you want to keep the view buy the field!

You are lucky you have a house to live in. There is a housing shortage have you not heard?

it is about greasy backhanders and cold hard cash

I don’t think you should accuse them of corruption with no evidence, that’s wrong, I understand why you disagree with their decisions, but I don’t think you should throw criminal accusations about because you’re angry.

Deer where I live are also considered a pest. They multiply very, very fast. It’s not a view I subscribe to, but I understand why the population needs to be managed, bat flight paths are also not a reason, and things like amenities and sewage systems can be built.

I think if you’re wishing to try to put s Stop to this, I’d seek legal advice and start to research it properly. Right now you’re just throwing random crap at them, and you need to get a handle on what the real issues that could stop them could be.

Near why I live there is a street of beautiful houses, we are talking well into seven figures, old large properties, they have just built a huge housing estate on the other side of the road from them. Literally they now face each other.

My husband commented the other day, just how much money these people must have lost on their properties due to the new estate. It’s actually quite shocking to see. What was once some beautiful houses on one side of the road and fields on thr other, is now beautiful houses on one side and a huge development on the other. They literally will be able to see into each o5ers homes.

The problem is I think that while you can object and persuade the planning dept to turn it down, the developers will appeal. And in the face of expensive specialist solicitors, most councils will roll over because they can't afford to lose.

I find the notion that planners/councillors receive backhanders and that they don’t care slightly naive. A housing scheme has to go through a number of people and is subject to a number of specialist consultations - one person can’t just approve a scheme! Unfortunately it’s the government that sets out the targets and legislation and they are the ones that create pro development legislation. Even at appeal councils send the best lawyers they can afford and certainly don’t role over, its just that they don’t have the budget or time to put the right resources in to defending themselves.

The councillor who is the head of planning in our borough council has always opposed building in the green belt. He has had a senior voice in blocking a lot of development in the area up until now.
Now he is about to retire he has sold his land in prime green belt to developers and guess what? It is being approved. It made the local paper but still it is going ahead.

I am not sure I am naive. Money and power talks.

Ps to anyone that wants to label me ta NIMBY or whatever , go ahead. Too early in the morning to discuss class politics

Sadly I don’t think legally anyone has a right to a view. So if you buy next to a greenfield site, you always run the risk of someone building immediately next to you. You have some rights to adequate light but they are pretty flimsy.

Unless there are genuine wildlife protection or sustainability concerns eg badgers, bats, protected trees or lack of GP, schools, shops then this will likely and correctly get passed. If you’d like to fight it, prepare to fork out a lot for planning specialists. You need very strong reasons to block this and nothing you’ve said so far is very concrete. You have my sympathies, its disappointing to have rural views taken away.

Thank you - some very helpful and realistic replies. Just what I was after