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Original poster

New development

48 replies

UnfriendMe · 18/12/2023 20:23

Hey all,

Just curious what your thoughts are on this. We are buying a modern new build in st ives Cambridgeshire. We haven't exchanged yet, but the plan is to do so early Jan. Anyway, there is a plan for a new development kind of near our house, I mean, it's not right there but it's not super far away. The plan requires there to be a gap between our development and theirs in order to maintain the border between counties and there also has to be lots of green space, tree planting etc as part of the application. Roughly 15 hectares it says. Anyway, I've attached a photo, the house we are buying is circled in red and the existing developments are greyed out. We will still have a good view of open space from our balcony and there are protected lands that can't be built on there as well. We also have a large listed wall that wraps around that side of our house too so from the inside nothing would be visible to us, only from the balcony. What would you do? Would this dissuade you or is it the best amount of green space you can ever hope to have around you living in the UK? I mean, they seem to just want to build on every patch of grass they can find which is just stupid, but it's the UK, so most policies are.

New development
OP posts:
CountryCob · 19/12/2023 07:01

Hello, I would say that the construction noise should be considered in the short term and pressure on amenities - school spaces, doctor's surgeries etc - what is availability currently like? Also would construction traffic inpact directly on you - are you accessing off same main road for example. Consider privacy as the green space will likely be used for dog walking etc. So short term concerns during the build as well as maybe some long term ones. There is a nice amount of green space left though and you are right a lot of building happening. You could take the view that at least you can see what the developed land looks like now and it looks ok given the green gap, could be worse. A lot of houses look like they have the benefit of green space but actually it is likely to be built on.

Jf20 · 19/12/2023 07:03

I struggle to see the issue, at the top of the planned development is a massive estate, what’s proposed is a fraction of that.

cristokitty · 19/12/2023 07:21

When buying a new build that was built on greenfield land, I think it's fair to assume the green space around you is going to be built on too. It might not be immediate but it will happen eventually.

Most developments near me just keep expanding, with no gap, so you've got a lot more space than most.

lightthetable · 19/12/2023 07:44

I think two things to consider, is the green area to the right of the development likely to be built on in future? And two, that green space will be used by dog walkers not really an issue but children playing on it and teenagers hanging out on it so noise issues from that. Now with rechargable speakers no one is carrying a giant boom box on their shoulders 80s style but instead a small, fits in your pocket speaker that they play music on.

Is it laid to grass and who will maintain it? If you can live with the above then as you have the wall and can't see it all I would proceed. I live near a small woodland with an open green space too which is why I mentioned the above. It doesn't really affect us as our lounge is on the back of the house so we don't hear anything or see anything but it does annoy some neigbours who face this area. Some are more prone to being upset by school children running across it on their way home from school; the open green area has paths laid through it so they are not cutting across the grass.

Trethew · 19/12/2023 11:42

I’d be worried about a “large listed wall”. Could be very expensive to maintain

Original poster
UnfriendMe · 19/12/2023 11:46

CountryCob · 19/12/2023 07:01

Hello, I would say that the construction noise should be considered in the short term and pressure on amenities - school spaces, doctor's surgeries etc - what is availability currently like? Also would construction traffic inpact directly on you - are you accessing off same main road for example. Consider privacy as the green space will likely be used for dog walking etc. So short term concerns during the build as well as maybe some long term ones. There is a nice amount of green space left though and you are right a lot of building happening. You could take the view that at least you can see what the developed land looks like now and it looks ok given the green gap, could be worse. A lot of houses look like they have the benefit of green space but actually it is likely to be built on.

So, as I understand, the planning application states that the green gap has to be there as this is in the border of st Ives and there needs to be a separation between this development which is in Huntington, and our development which is in st ives. We are accessed by a private road off of the main road, so not sure about traffic though there will be an increase in traffic coming in from their side. Schools etc are not a worry as we don't have kids, as far as surgeries go I'm not sure how it works though being close to cambridge and having private medical, we will def be going to cambridge. It's more about the view I suppose, and noise of construction. This is apparently a 15 year plan as well, so not sure when it would actually start, the planning application has only now gone up.

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Original poster
UnfriendMe · 19/12/2023 11:47

Trethew · 19/12/2023 11:42

I’d be worried about a “large listed wall”. Could be very expensive to maintain

They have to basically redo a lot of it so it looks like a new wall and are reinforcing it from the other side. You think this will be an issue?

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Original poster
UnfriendMe · 19/12/2023 11:50

lightthetable · 19/12/2023 07:44

I think two things to consider, is the green area to the right of the development likely to be built on in future? And two, that green space will be used by dog walkers not really an issue but children playing on it and teenagers hanging out on it so noise issues from that. Now with rechargable speakers no one is carrying a giant boom box on their shoulders 80s style but instead a small, fits in your pocket speaker that they play music on.

Is it laid to grass and who will maintain it? If you can live with the above then as you have the wall and can't see it all I would proceed. I live near a small woodland with an open green space too which is why I mentioned the above. It doesn't really affect us as our lounge is on the back of the house so we don't hear anything or see anything but it does annoy some neigbours who face this area. Some are more prone to being upset by school children running across it on their way home from school; the open green area has paths laid through it so they are not cutting across the grass.

I don't think the green area can be built on as it's part of the application and there has to be a divide between the two counties as it's right on the border. These are all part of the planning application though I know many developers will just lie and change the planning down the road. I imagine other homeowners who have bought at that point though would also have a problem with that but I don't know.

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Original poster
UnfriendMe · 19/12/2023 11:51

cristokitty · 19/12/2023 07:21

When buying a new build that was built on greenfield land, I think it's fair to assume the green space around you is going to be built on too. It might not be immediate but it will happen eventually.

Most developments near me just keep expanding, with no gap, so you've got a lot more space than most.

Even if some of it is protected woodland that the council have said cannot be built on and even if the planning application is contingent on there being green space for the surrounding developments and a gap between the 2 counties?

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Trethew · 19/12/2023 11:53

Hopefully not, but you need to make sure who is responsible for its future maintenance, and whether you bear a proportion of the costs. Your solicitor should advise. Listed structures cannot be fixed any old way, and must be maintained using appropriate materials in keeping with the original structure which can be costly

Powderedalkali · 19/12/2023 11:57

Gove is announcing today that Cambridgeshire is a target area for expansion so other areas in between might get built on.

Original poster
UnfriendMe · 19/12/2023 12:05

cristokitty · 19/12/2023 07:21

When buying a new build that was built on greenfield land, I think it's fair to assume the green space around you is going to be built on too. It might not be immediate but it will happen eventually.

Most developments near me just keep expanding, with no gap, so you've got a lot more space than most.

Yeah, I suppose no matter where you live in the UK you are likely to lose green space to more ugly housing. It's absolutely idiotic and makes me wonder if buying in America would be better, at least there you have space to breathe or rather the option to buy the land around you so nobody can build on it.

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CasperGutman · 19/12/2023 12:38

I'm pretty sure most American homes are in massive sprawling suburbs, not cabins in the woods....

Original poster
UnfriendMe · 19/12/2023 14:48

CasperGutman · 19/12/2023 12:38

I'm pretty sure most American homes are in massive sprawling suburbs, not cabins in the woods....

Depends where you live and land is much cheaper there so the option to buy a large piece of land and make sure that you have no neighbours nearby is there, without needing millions of dollars. Also, those suburbs are planned out much better, they aren't just grids of houses with no trees, green space etc. There is also lots of space left between houses, they aren't trying to build on every patch of grass they can see. So Def a lot of pros compared to the UK.

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CasperGutman · 19/12/2023 15:20

That's true. It's not all good, though. Spacing the housing out means more land is taken for the same amount of housing. Everything will be further away as a consequence: shops, restaurants and other services within the urban sprawl (there'll still only be one whatever it is per however many homes, give or take, but you have to travel further to get past those homes). You're much more car-dependent as a result.

Actually living in the wilderness may be affordable, but it's not practical for most people. If you live in a developed area then more space between houses just means you have to drive further to get out into real green space that isn't someone's yard than you otherwise would. Plus, vast areas of land get turned from real, valuable wilderness with wildlife into sterile grass monoculture back gardens. 🙁

Spirallingdownwards · 19/12/2023 15:34

Just so you know when we first moved to Cambridge we looked at places in St Ives as being close to Cambridge. It really isn't especially in terms of rush hour traffic and public transport.

Original poster
UnfriendMe · 19/12/2023 16:38

Spirallingdownwards · 19/12/2023 15:34

Just so you know when we first moved to Cambridge we looked at places in St Ives as being close to Cambridge. It really isn't especially in terms of rush hour traffic and public transport.

What about the guided bus? As I understand only the bus can use that route and it's about 25 mins? We don't work in Cambridge, my husband works in London and takes the train and I work remotely. So trips to Cambridge would likely be on the weekend and not in rush hour traffic.

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winewinewine23 · 19/12/2023 17:01

I appreciate not the point of the thread but you've just bought a "new build type property" but aren't happy that they're building more? If you buy on a new build site the chance of them building more is almost 100%, what did you expect and are you really saying that you should be able to buy this type of house but don't want others to be able to do the same?

Original poster
UnfriendMe · 19/12/2023 18:30

CasperGutman · 19/12/2023 15:20

That's true. It's not all good, though. Spacing the housing out means more land is taken for the same amount of housing. Everything will be further away as a consequence: shops, restaurants and other services within the urban sprawl (there'll still only be one whatever it is per however many homes, give or take, but you have to travel further to get past those homes). You're much more car-dependent as a result.

Actually living in the wilderness may be affordable, but it's not practical for most people. If you live in a developed area then more space between houses just means you have to drive further to get out into real green space that isn't someone's yard than you otherwise would. Plus, vast areas of land get turned from real, valuable wilderness with wildlife into sterile grass monoculture back gardens. 🙁

Yes indeed those are all valid points, except the last, I think America has a lot more untouched wilderness than the UK, percentage wise. People here seem to be ok with bulldozing every green space to build more houses till it will be nothing but a concrete jungle no matter where you go. That is my worry, nothing is truly protected, not that anything is truly protected in America either, there is just much more of it.

These are of course not my only reasons, I am American and my family are there, so obviously that trump's most things. Speaking of Trump, that is one major, major con, not that the UK govt are much better, I'd argue Tories and Labour are equally garbage.

Ugh.

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CasperGutman · 19/12/2023 18:44

There is absolutely more wilderness and open space in the US. But that doesn't mean it should be destroyed. It is valuable to the creatures that live on it.

Each British person takes up less land than each American: our country is much more densely populated. If I were the only person living in the UK and concreted over an area the size of - to choose a random example - Norwich to live on, I shouldn't congratulate myself that I'd left the rest of Great Britain untouched. The absolute amount I'd taken would still be excessive.

Hothotdamage · 19/12/2023 18:47

Plenty is truly protected, it's difficult to get planning permission for big schemes. I think 10% of the country is classed as urban might be smaller than that. House builders will auction off against each other to buy big pieces of land ,. They all know how many houses they can fit in any one piece of land. We could make bigger gaps between houses , bigger gardens but that would mean more land for houses instead of cramming them in. Very few people would go for that. The land owners for a start would hate it.
Look at the price difference between arable land and those with PP for housing.

AllAroundMyCat · 19/12/2023 18:50

So you've bought a new build but are concerned about more new builds?

Don't know what to say .

Original poster
UnfriendMe · 19/12/2023 22:55

CasperGutman · 19/12/2023 18:44

There is absolutely more wilderness and open space in the US. But that doesn't mean it should be destroyed. It is valuable to the creatures that live on it.

Each British person takes up less land than each American: our country is much more densely populated. If I were the only person living in the UK and concreted over an area the size of - to choose a random example - Norwich to live on, I shouldn't congratulate myself that I'd left the rest of Great Britain untouched. The absolute amount I'd taken would still be excessive.

When did I say that the wilderness in America should be destroyed? I'm 100% for saving the wilderness and the creatures who live in it, I don't think housing people should come at the detriment of the wilderness at all, in fact, more so the opposite, I couldn't give less of a fuck about housing people if I'm honest. I was simply saying that in the UK the mentality seems to be let's bulldoze and pave over everything for the sake of housing which I think is stupid, esp considering that it's a small island. I was also saying that it's not fully protected in America either, pretty sure Trump tried selling off a lot of public land to private builders and people who would demolish the environment for the sake of a buck. So it's not a whole lot better there, there is just more land there. That was the entirety of my point.

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Original poster
UnfriendMe · 19/12/2023 23:00

AllAroundMyCat · 19/12/2023 18:50

So you've bought a new build but are concerned about more new builds?

Don't know what to say .

I'm CONTEMPLATING buying an expensive new build, a big reason for it being expensive is the open land around it and views from the balcony. So yeah, I'm concerned about how close other developments are bc who the fuck wants to overlook an ugly housing development? And let's face it, most of them are ugly housing developments, not that the older houses are that nice either, they are all quite hideous. Yes, I get the irony about not wanting to turn green space into development when I'm thinking about buying in a development that's done just that, but that doesn't mean I want to overlook another one. I'm fairly certain everyone would rather overlook protected land than another house.

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Original poster
UnfriendMe · 19/12/2023 23:09

UnfriendMe · 19/12/2023 23:00

I'm CONTEMPLATING buying an expensive new build, a big reason for it being expensive is the open land around it and views from the balcony. So yeah, I'm concerned about how close other developments are bc who the fuck wants to overlook an ugly housing development? And let's face it, most of them are ugly housing developments, not that the older houses are that nice either, they are all quite hideous. Yes, I get the irony about not wanting to turn green space into development when I'm thinking about buying in a development that's done just that, but that doesn't mean I want to overlook another one. I'm fairly certain everyone would rather overlook protected land than another house.

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You could say the same thing to someone in London who's bought a flat and is now worried about the massive block of flats being built right next to their flat. I've actually seen a post about exactly that. I guess people do worry about things like that after all huh?

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