Searches reveal failed planning permission for houses overlooking garden

[Tree1077]

We are in the process of purchasing a property which backs onto green belt and also has green belt land next door to its garden. The searches have revealed that a neighbour a few doors down, who has a huge garden, has tried SIX times to get planning permission to build houses on the land. Each one has failed, the latest being a year ago. If they were built our rear garden would be very overlooked on one side. What do you think the changes are of this ever being agreed to? Obviously our vendor has never mentioned this ...

The chances are that it will go ahead - they will keep plugging away until someone approves it <bitter experience>. Greenbelt land means nothing.

Population is growing, more houses will be built eventually and towns are going to have to expand to do so, so this will probably get approved at some point; depends what the reasons for refusal were.
Check your councils local housing plan to see if the area in general is earmarked for possible future development.

Remeber that you don't own a view, and it's very unwise to pay extra for it.

Well there’s a question on the property information form asking about development on adjoining land, so they should have told you.

I’d assume it will go through at some point.

We had a slightly similar situation when we moved -person on street behind had tried to get PP 3 or 4 times over 20 years but kept being turned down.

Talking to a friend who works in this area we were advised to check the minutes of the meetings of the planning committee where the discussion of the application took place. We then contacted the council to find out more informally. We spoke to a very helpful person in the planning permission/ building department who told us more about the reasons and our possible grounds for objection if they put in a new application.

We went ahead with buying the house and so far , 5 years later, no new application has gone in. Ultimately as I understand it if they put in a new application, maybe for 1 or 2 houses instead of the 3 they originally wanted, it is likely to go through but we can object and get them to change the plans if it occurs. In the meantime we have planted a hedge at the botton of the garden so that we wont be overlooked if it ever comes about!