When a building site is causing disruption; what can you do?
- Thread starter PaulB
- Start date
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summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
Yep same here ... No proper policy in place so builders get a free hand... The developers seem to have that loop hole sussed!
Spinney
Bimbleur extraordinaire
- Location
- Back up north
Thankfully it's the other end of the village to me, but it's the beginning of the slippery slope...
summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
The problem isn't new houses, though it's not that nice when it changes your locality, it's the way that the developers treat the local population whilst they are doing it, so that you constantly feel bullied and someone who can be ignored.
Spinney
Bimbleur extraordinaire
- Location
- Back up north
Well, I'm really, really not looking forward to the day we lose our view south across the fields because there's a new housing estate there instead of a field. Not on the cards yet, though.
(Me, a NIMBY?? Yup!)
(Me, a NIMBY?? Yup!)
You'd have to suspect that. In 2010, the first application came in and went all the way to the Environment secretary as it is part greenfield/part brownfield. John Prescott put an embargo on any further applications until 2017. The election of the Conservative government and their plans to increase house building to stimulate the economy changed things but even so, they were constantly rejected. Last year they had what was termed their last possible appeal against their last rejection but that was thrown out unanimously. This summer though, they were allowed another last chance and it was 5 for V 5 against so the casting vote went to the chairman - needless to say he is a Tory - and he voted yes.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Complain, complain,complain, and complain again until the panel grants a decision the applicant likes. That's democracy for you.
Well we had a real victory today! This building company are THE most complained about in Britain so we knew they'd be lying from the first words out of their mouths to us so I called the council planning department this morning. They'd planned to have 84 wagons carrying hard-core and other stuff right past my house to the site to unload. They didn't get that done. The planning officer being alerted by us said they hadn't received permission yet so were already breaching their contract and he went up and told them to clean up and cease work immediately. He will now spend the whole of tomorrow inspecting their plans and compliance with their contract so told us no further work will be taking place this week! Bit of a celebration in order for that I think!
andytheflyer
Guru
- Location
- South Cheshire
If they have not got planning approval,that means they may not have had the results of any consultation with the Coal Authority either - if there are coal seams <30m below surface, these need investigating by drilling, and may need grouting before any development takes place. That's not a 5 minute job as it needs some thinking about - many sites are not economically developable if blighted by mining. No geologist will sign off a development over shallow coal seams if there's any doubt about mining - and many workings are not recorded. If there's coal at <30m, assume it's been worked until you've looked and proven to yourself it hasn't. The CA will oppose planning until they are satisfied that there's no risk of future subsidence as they can be liable for that damage - and they are 99.9% risk averse!
Very interesting. One of our councillors also sits in the House of Lords and when this very question was raised at a recent residents/builders meeting, he wrote everything down meticulously. This could be their undoing. But please, how do we make contact with the Coal Authority?
swee'pea99
Squire
Had a drink with a mate tonight and mentioned this thread. Told me his missus (they live in separate flats...it's a long story) has a nice old wall at the end of her garden. Big, tall, been there for ever, she has all sorts of things growing up it. Developers applied to build two storey houses just on the other side of it...objections all round - too close, overlooking, etc. Got turned down. Came back with an application to build bungalows instead - no overlooking, blah de blah. Got permission, with one strict restraint attached: must not touch the wall.
A while later, work started. Long story short, turns out they've been given permission to build two storey houses, with dug-out basements. Council insists residents all received formal notice. They didn't. Work on digging out for the basements has caused damage to the wall to such an extent that it has been deemed dangerous. So the developers have been given the go-ahead (because it's dangerous, and the Council is so concerned for the residents' safety), to demolish it and erect a blank steel screen in its place. Protests to the council have been simply stonewalled; she's taking legal advice; it seems all but certain that the wall will be long gone long before any kind of preventative action can be taken.
What would we do without planning laws, eh?
A while later, work started. Long story short, turns out they've been given permission to build two storey houses, with dug-out basements. Council insists residents all received formal notice. They didn't. Work on digging out for the basements has caused damage to the wall to such an extent that it has been deemed dangerous. So the developers have been given the go-ahead (because it's dangerous, and the Council is so concerned for the residents' safety), to demolish it and erect a blank steel screen in its place. Protests to the council have been simply stonewalled; she's taking legal advice; it seems all but certain that the wall will be long gone long before any kind of preventative action can be taken.
What would we do without planning laws, eh?
Thanks for that. I've forwarded on all relevant information to the planning commission and local councillors with responsibility for this ward. And they are taking notice!
