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Planners and property developers

Our house and neighbours have enjoyed great views over the golf course and countryside.  A recent development by Taylor Wimpey will obliterate our views.  The buildings are so close to us, like 2 metres from our back fence!  According to the planning department views do not count and this is true in planning.  However as we ALL know views are important in selling a house and do add value to a house. This is borne out by those who levy council tax.

If you have amenities such as golf course views you are taxed for this amenity.  I have applied for a reduction in council tax due to loss of amenity.  If successful surely this proves that a view is an asset and has a monetary value.  Surely you cannot tax on one hand and not give compensation on the other if the amenity is lost?

Property developer should compensate those affected

Property developers It would also mean that new developments which ruin views contribute to a lowering of revenues collected by council tax.  It is time for all bodies to coordinate.  How can it be on one hand that a view is not to be considered and on the other that it is a consideration for tax!  Thus if a building plan reduces the value of a property but must be built for extra housing and of course affordable housing (a joke and a con) then the property developer should compensate those affected by the approved plan and pay compensation accordingly.  This would only be fair don't you think?

I am sure the Taylor Wimpey's of the world would back down on exploitative and speculative property developments if compensation had to be paid out.  "Where can we build?" they would bleat!  Well not in my back-yard for a start!  There is plenty of land around and plenty of brown sites without ruining the fortunes and lives of those who happily pay council tax in the hope of having value for it.

Nice to see the value of Taylor Wimpey reduced by 84% over the past year. Nice!  Well serves them right another example of unbridled greed such as Northern Rock and many more.  Sadly those who they employ end up losing jobs as a result.

So views do count and it is time planning and the tax man sang from the same sheet.  I urge for a change in law that values the amenity of view from one's home.

By: Jim Currie

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Unfortunately, this is the way of the world these days.
People with alot of money seem to be able to do whatever they want, even if it involves walking all over somebody else.
The people without money are the ones that get walked all over and simply have to put up with it.

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angry guy - 20-Nov-10 18:48 

Another thing, I have contacted Channel 4 Dispatches and Panorama today to see if they would be prepared to investigate this unfairness. Long shot but worth a try. Maybe if some more of you did the same they might pick it up and shame these people if nothing else. But the law definitely needs to change. Wasn't it Labour that made it more relaxed in the first place so that they could get away with turning the South East into one big airport? My poor Mum and Dad have to live with this nightmare. Everybody it would seem, apart from Greedy Property Developers are being dumped on from a great height

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Unlucky - 24-Sep-10 18:15 

We have the same problem. A greedy property developer has bought the semi-detached house next door to us and plans to shoe horn two houses into this space, a metre from our property towering over our bungalow and casting a shadow over our small garden. Some of the planning that has gone ahead in this area is shocking and surprising, sea views being obliterated just for peoples greed and total lack of consideration towards others in an attempt to make as much money as they can. Leaving others devastated with de-valued properties. It is not only our property that is going to be seriously affected by this, the other side will become an end of terrace instead of a semi. Why on earth are these people allowed to get away with this. I feel like a victim of a terrible crime. Just waiting now for somebody to take my sea view away, which I have paid for, then I might as well just hand in the keys.

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Unlucky - 24-Sep-10 18:04 

We are now in a similar position with Wainhomes building a home 1 metre across the back of our house- this being 30feet away from ours. Yes, let's be honest- it's not just the view we've lost- it's the thousands of pounds reduction in the price we can ask for our property. This is how much more we had to pay for the view. If people never had views on their property they did not pay for this in the first place. We did pay and feel we have had our money stolen and are not young enough to claw this back.

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Wendy - 14-Feb-09 18:22 

If you genuinely suspect maladministration or fraud write to the following at the council:
Head of the planning dept
Chief executive
Chairman of the council
Leaders of the political groups
Head of audit
using non-controversial terminology. Be very careful not to libel an individual but be as critical of the council as you like

Ask for a full investigation including an independent review of the current planning decision as against all previous refusals and also voice your serious concerns over possible conflicts of interest. Give them a set time in which to respond to your concerns. Make it clear you will not leave the matter if no satisfactory explanantion is forthcoming. Do not agree to resolution in camera or via telephone.

If they do not respond or try to fob you off or attempt to bully you into withdrawing, contact the LG Ombudsman: www.lgo.org.uk and send a copy of all correspondence.

This can be extremely entertaining especially if the cluncil do not follow very precise guidelines. I have seen several cases of public bodies putting up stiff resistance only to trip themselves on their own bureacuracy.

Good luck.

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Manx Hound - 3-Feb-09 11:01 

I have had the same experience. The builder in this case was my local councillor and vice chair of the planning committee lol. He had been unsuccessfuly applying for planning permission for 17 years before getting onto the council. He has built a 7mtr high house with a flat metal roof 1 meter from my boundary. Goodbye my views or even outlook - I don't even like to look at my backgarden any more with the monstrosity at the end of it. I was told I had no ground for complaint because my garden was 23 meters long. The building is hideous and looks like a retail outlet or barn. It seems to me that builders can do whatever they like and planning departments don't really care. I was told that my considerations didn't have to be taken into account. I have also tried unsuccessfully to get a reduction in my council tax. I am planting trees as fast as I can to try and screen the building but the builder threatened me under the high hedges act if I planted evergreens - can you believe it!!!!!!!

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Michelle - 3-Feb-09 08:13 

This gripe was logged by a member of the subprime class, one unable to pay their mortgage -let them gripe: they will soon find themselves amongst the trailer trash that they really are.

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Sensitive Nose - 1-Oct-08 21:01 

Yes, SLY, Like most UK House owners I am obsessed with the value of the property. Now the kids are all at university or gone I want to down size sometime...basicially as my pension is not going to be enough to stay here since Gordon got his hands on it ( anaother Gripe ) and I would like to see one asset not going down the drain. I have no ambitions to live like a footabbler..just enough in old age to be able to eat and keep warm.... So when I see a possible devaluing of my property because some planner and a greedy speculative hosuebuilder get together I do get a bit peed off. Also while I am here with no chance of ever being able to pay the mortgage off ( yea I know I should have bought a smaller hosue and kept the kids in a kennel ) I would like at least to be able to see one of the free things in life...the country without some builder blocking that off. Of course he is flogging his houses with " Breath taking Golf cousre views " No they are not mine to own they are now in the hands of Wimpey

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Jim Currie - 18-Sep-08 17:31 

Yes they should sing from the same hymn sheet.

How come they were allowed to build a development on a golf course?

The real problem is the people who have the power to give permission. Often such plans won't affect them.

What I find appalling is, without question, the quality of these buildings the developers chuck up! It amazes me that people actually buy these things at all. Then when you hear what they paid, you just know it wasn't ordinary folk, but a bunch of brain donors - that will be your new neighbours. So depressing!

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Reg - 18-Sep-08 14:26 

Im sorry but when people complain about views being hidden, its because they want to enjoy the views for the rest of there days, it sounds as though you are just complaining because you wont get as much for your property when you sell, so basically its not about views, its all about money,
consider yourself lucky, due to the credit crunch, I am unable to obtain a mortgage, so I can not even own my own home,

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sly - 18-Sep-08 05:55 

Did you pay for your views in the first place? Has the Council given a proper Council Tax assessment of the value your views? Do you have Ancient Light rights?

If none of these go away and plant some plastic palm trees in your back yard.

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Person with unassuming views - 17-Sep-08 06:23 

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